Broadcast receiver and method of processing data

ABSTRACT

A broadcast receiver, and a method of processing data are disclosed. The broadcast receiver includes a receiving unit, a RS frame decoder, a decoding unit, and an output unit. The receiving unit receives a broadcast signal multiplexed mobile broadcast service data including a first information associated with safety/security and main broadcast service data. The RS frame decoder performs CRC-decoding and RS-decoding on the RS frame, thereby correcting errors occurred in the corresponding mobile broadcast service data. The decoding unit extracts the first information from the error-corrected mobile broadcast service data, thereby decoding the extracted data with at least one of an audio decoder, a video decoder, and a data decoder. The output unit outputs the first information decoded by the decoder in a form of at least one of a text, a voice message, and an image.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No.10-2007-0067161, filed on Jul. 4, 2007, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein. Also, this application claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/957,714, filed onAug. 24, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/974,084, filed on Sep. 21, 2007, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast system, and moreparticularly, to a telematics terminal capable of receiving broadcastdata and a method for processing data.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Telematics is a compound word that stems from the terms“telecommunication” and “informatics”. Herein, telematics consists of ablending of diverse technologies including wireless telecommunication,computers, internet, and other multi-media industries. A telematicsterminal may use a position measuring system and a wirelesstelecommunications network, so as to provide traffic information,guidance instructions in case of emergency situations, remote vehiclediagnosis, and internet services to drivers and passengers of a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a digital broadcastsystem, a broadcast receiver, a telematics terminal capable of receivingbroadcast data, and a method for processing data that substantiallyobviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of therelated art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcastsystem, a broadcast receiver, a telematics terminal capable of receivingbroadcast data, and a method for processing data, wherein the digitalbroadcast system and the method for processing data can broadcastsafety/security information including a current position information ofthe telematics terminal via a broadcast network, thereby enablingbroadcast services to be provided to a large number of unspecified users(or people).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digitalbroadcast system, a broadcast receiver, a telematics terminal capable ofreceiving broadcast data, and a method for processing data, wherein thebroadcast receiver, the telematics terminal and the method forprocessing data are capable of receiving broadcast services forreceiving and processing safety/security information including a currentposition information of the telematics terminal via a broadcast network.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, abroadcast receiver includes a receiving unit, a RS frame decoder, adecoding unit, and an output unit. The receiving unit receives abroadcast signal multiplexed mobile broadcast service data including afirst information associated with safety/security and main broadcastservice data. The mobile broadcast service data configures a RS frame.The RS frame includes at least one data packet corresponding to themobile broadcast service data, an RS parity generated based upon the atleast one data packet, and a CRC checksum generated based upon the atleast one data packet and the RS parity. The RS frame decoder performsCRC-decoding and RS-decoding on the RS frame, thereby correcting errorsoccurred in the corresponding mobile broadcast service data. Thedecoding unit extracts the first information from the error-correctedmobile broadcast service data, thereby decoding the extracted data withat least one of an audio decoder, a video decoder, and a data decoder.The output unit outputs the first information decoded by the decoder ina form of at least one of a text, a voice message, and an image.

The broadcast receiver further includes a position information modulefor searching and generating a current position information of thebroadcast receiver, and a telecommunication module for communicatingwith a domestic carrier located at a remote site via a wirelesstelecommunication network, and transmitting a second information to thedomestic carrier, when an auto-theft incident or accident is detected,wherein the second information is information associated withsafety/security including at least one of a license plate number of acorresponding vehicle and a current position information of acorresponding vehicle. The first information is different from thesecond information each other.

The broadcast receiver further includes a navigation unit for performingat least one of travel route search, map matching, and travel routeguidance by using a map information and the current positioninformation.

The broadcast receiver further includes a known sequence detector fordetecting known data linearly inserted within at least one data group,which configures the RS frame, and a channel equalizer forchannel-equalizing the mobile broadcast service data using the detectedknown data.

The broadcast receiver further includes a transmission parameterdetector for detecting transmission parameters inserted in apredetermined position within at least one data group, which configuresthe RS frame, and a power controller for controlling power based uponthe detected transmission parameters, thereby receiving a data groupincluding requested mobile broadcast service data.

The broadcast receiver further includes a block decoder symbol-decodingthe mobile broadcast service data in block units, based upon thedetected transmission parameter.

In another aspect of the present invention, a data processing method ofa broadcast receiver includes receiving a broadcast signal multiplexedmobile broadcast service data including a first information associatedwith safety/security and main broadcast service data, wherein the mobilebroadcast service data configures a RS frame, and wherein the RS frameincludes at least one data packet corresponding to the mobile broadcastservice data, an RS parity generated based upon the at least one datapacket, and a CRC checksum generated based upon the at least one datapacket and the RS parity, performing CRC-decoding and RS-decoding on theRS frame, thereby correcting errors occurred in the corresponding mobilebroadcast service data, extracting the first information from theerror-corrected mobile broadcast service data, thereby decoding theextracted data with at least one of an audio decoder, a video decoder,and a data decoder, and outputting the first information decoded by thedecoder in a form of at least one of a text, a voice message, and animage.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block view showing a conceptual view of atelematics system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive VSB modemobile broadcast services according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block view showing a method for tracking a stolenvehicle in a digital broadcasting system according to a first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block view showing a method for tracking a stolenvehicle in a digital broadcasting system according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of outputting stolen vehicle informationfrom a telematics terminal capable of receiving mobile broadcastsignals;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of outputting stolen vehicle informationfrom a mobile terminal capable of receiving mobile broadcast signals;

FIG. 7A illustrates a block view showing a method for disposing ofcrashed or damaged vehicles in a digital broadcasting system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C illustrate examples of an on-screen display of areceiving system, when an accident has occurred within the travel routeof the user;

FIG. 8 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive mobilebroadcast services according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a detailed block view of a mobile broadcast servicedata processing unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B respectively illustrate a data group structure anddata configuration prior to and after data deinterleaving according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive mobilebroadcast services according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive mobilebroadcast services according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a structure of a MPH frame for transmitting andreceiving mobile broadcast service data according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary structure of a VSB frame;

FIG. 15 illustrates a mapping example of the positions to which thefirst 4 slots of a sub-frame are assigned with respect to a VSB frame ina space region;

FIG. 16 illustrates a mapping example of the positions to which thefirst 4 slots of a sub-frame are assigned with respect to a VSB frame ina time region;

FIG. 17 illustrates an alignment of data after being data interleavedand identified;

FIG. 18 illustrates an enlarged portion of the data group shown in FIG.17 for a better understanding of the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates an alignment of data before being data interleavedand identified;

FIG. 20 illustrates an enlarged portion of the data group shown in FIG.19 for a better understanding of the present invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary assignment order of data groups beingassigned to one of 5 sub-frames according to the present invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of multiple data groups of a singleparade being assigned (or allocated) to an MPH frame;

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of transmitting 3 parades to an MPH frameaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates an example of expanding the assignment process of 3parades to 5 sub-frames within an MPH frame;

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram showing a general structure of adigital broadcast transmitting system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 26 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of a servicemultiplexer;

FIG. 27 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of a transmitteraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of apre-processor according to the present invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates a conceptual block diagram of the MPH frame encoderaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 illustrates a detailed block diagram of an RS frame encoderamong a plurality of RS frame encoders within an MPH frame encoder;

FIG. 31( a) and FIG. 31( b) illustrate a process of one or two RS framebeing divided into several portions, based upon an RS frame mode value,and a process of each portion being assigned to a corresponding regionwithin the respective data group;

FIG. 32( a) to FIG. 32( c) illustrate error correction encoding anderror detection encoding processes according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 33 illustrates an example of performing a row permutation (orinterleaving) process in super frame units according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 34( a) and FIG. 34( b) illustrate an example of creating an RSframe by grouping data, thereby performing error correction encoding anderror detection encoding;

FIG. 35( a) and FIG. 35( b) illustrate an exemplary process of dividingan RS frame for configuring a data group according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 36 illustrates a block diagram of a block processor according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 illustrates a detailed block diagram of a convolution encoder ofthe block processor of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 illustrates a symbol interleaver of the block processor of FIG.36;

FIG. 39 illustrates a block diagram of a group formatter according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 40 illustrates a detailed diagram of one of 12 trellis encodersincluded in the trellis encoding module of FIG. 27;

FIG. 41 illustrates an example of assigning signaling information areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 42 illustrates a detailed block diagram of a signaling encoderaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 43 illustrates an example of a syntax structure of TPC dataaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 44 illustrates an example of power saving of in a receiver whentransmitting 3 parades to an MPH frame level according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 45 illustrates an example of a transmission scenario of the TPCdata and the FIC data level according to the present invention;

FIG. 46 illustrates an example of a training sequence at the byte levelaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 47 illustrates an example of a training sequence at the symbolaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In addition,although the terms used in the present invention are selected fromgenerally known and used terms, some of the terms mentioned in thedescription of the present invention have been selected by the applicantat his or her discretion, the detailed meanings of which are describedin relevant parts of the description herein. Furthermore, it is requiredthat the present invention is understood, not simply by the actual termsused but by the meaning of each term lying within.

Among the terms used in the present invention, mobile broadcast servicedata correspond to data being transmitted through a broadcastingnetwork. Herein, the mobile broadcast service data may include at leastone of mobile broadcast service data, pedestrian broadcast service data,and handheld broadcast service data, and are collectively referred to asmobile broadcast service data for simplicity. Herein, the mobilebroadcast service data not only correspond to mobile/pedestrian/handheldbroadcast service data (M/P/H broadcast service data) but may alsoinclude any type of broadcast service data with mobile or portablecharacteristics. Therefore, the mobile broadcast service data accordingto the present invention are not limited only to the M/P/H broadcastservice data.

The above-described mobile broadcast service data may correspond to datahaving information, such as program execution files, stock information,weather forecast information, traffic information, and so on, and mayalso correspond to A/V data, such as TV series or movies. Finally, themobile broadcast service data may also correspond to audio-specificdata, such as music programs. Also, the mobile broadcast service datamay include weather forecast services, traffic information services,stock information services, viewer participation quiz programs,real-time polls and surveys, interactive education broadcast programs,gaming services, services providing information on synopsis, character,background music, and filming sites of soap operas or series, servicesproviding information on past match scores and player profiles andachievements, and services providing information on product informationand programs classified by service, medium, time, and theme enablingpurchase orders to be processed. Herein, the present invention is notlimited only to the services mentioned above.

Among the terms used in the description of the present invention, mainbroadcast service data correspond to data that can be received by afixed receiving system and may include audio/video (A/V) data. Morespecifically, the main broadcast service data may include A/V data ofhigh definition (HD) or standard definition (SD) levels and may alsoinclude diverse data types required for data broadcasting. Also, theknown data correspond to data pre-known in accordance with apre-arranged agreement between the receiving system and the transmittingsystem.

The present invention relates to providing users with safety/securityinformation services of the telematics terminal through a receivingsystem capable of receiving broadcast data. In order to do so, thepresent invention transmits safety/security information includingposition information of the telematics terminal through a broadcastingnetwork. Particularly, the invention relates to processingsafety/security information including a current position information ofthe telematics terminal to vestigial side band (VSB) mode mobilebroadcast service data, so that the processed data can be received andtransmitted. Telematics terminals capable of receiving mobile broadcastsignals and mobile terminals capable of receiving mobile broadcastsignals may be applied as the receiving system of the present invention.Examples of the mobile terminal may include mobile (cellular) phones,personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop or notebook computers, and soon. Also, if a fixed-type receiving system is capable of receivingmobile broadcast signals, the present invention may also be applied infixed-type receiving systems.

The safety/security information refers to information associated withsafety and security, such as information on car accidents or autothefts. Herein, car accidents or auto thefts are merely examples of thesafety/security information according to the present invention.Therefore, the present invention will not be limited to the examplespresented herein. Also, in addition to the safety/security information,other information such as information on construction and/orconstruction sites, information on assemblies or rallies, information onmissing children, and so on may also be provided as information servicesalong with the corresponding position information via the broadcastingnetwork.

More specifically, a broadcasting station providing mobile broadcastservices may receive the current position information of a stolenvehicle from the telematics terminal mounted in the stolen vehicle.Then, the broadcasting station may transmit the information on thestolen vehicle including the current position information in the form ofmobile broadcast services via the broadcasting network. Accordingly, areceiving system capable of receiving broadcast data may receive theinformation on the stolen vehicle including the current positioninformation and process received information, thereby outputting theprocessed information in the form of an audio message, an image or atext. Therefore, since any mobile terminal that can receive broadcastdata, such as mobile phones and PDAs, may be able to receive theinformation on the stolen vehicle as well as the current positioninformation of the stolen vehicle, the rate and possibility ofretrieving the stolen vehicle may be increased.

Furthermore, a broadcasting station providing mobile broadcast servicesmay receive the current position information of a crashed vehicle (i.e.,due to an accident) from the telematics terminal mounted in the crashedvehicle. Then, the broadcasting station may transmit the information onthe crashed vehicle including the current position information in theform of mobile broadcast services via the broadcasting network.Accordingly, a receiving system capable of receiving broadcast data mayreceive the information on the crashed vehicle including the currentposition information and process received information, therebyoutputting the processed information in the form of an audio message, animage or a text. Therefore, since any mobile terminal that can receivebroadcast data, such as mobile phones and PDAs, may be able to receivethe information on the crashed vehicle as well as the current positioninformation of the crashed vehicle in real-time, the users may be ableto take active measures by avoiding the area near the accident notifiedaccident, or by making a detour from the accident area.

At this point, the position information of the stolen vehicle or theposition information of the crashed vehicle may be provided from thecorresponding telematics terminal to the broadcasting station inreal-time via the telecommunication network or the broadcasting network.For example, the position information generated from the telematicsterminal is transmitted to a domestic carrier through thetelecommunication network. Then, the position information is transmittedback to the broadcasting station from the domestic carrier. Also, theposition information of the point of theft (i.e., the point where thevehicle was stolen) or the position information of the point of accident(i.e., the point where the accident has occurred) may be received from auser's mobile phone.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a domesticcarrier may transmit information on a stolen vehicle or information on acrashed vehicle to the mobile phone of a user subscribed to thecorresponding domestic carrier. At this point, the information on astolen vehicle or the information on a crashed vehicle may betransmitted in the form of a short message service (SMS) and may also betransmitted in the form wireless internet (TCP/IP). Also, in thedescription of the present invention, a user using the receiving systemthat can receive broadcast data as well as a driver or passenger usingthe telematics services within a vehicle will be referred to as a “user”for simplicity.

Telematics System

FIG. 1 illustrates a block view showing a conceptual view of atelematics system according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 1, the telematics system broadly includes abroadcasting station, a domestic carrier, a global positioning system(GPS), and a telematics terminal. More specifically, the broadcastingstation transmits mobile broadcast service data via a broadcastingnetwork. The domestic carrier transmits and receives information to andfrom the telematics terminal via a wireless telecommunication network.The GPS provides position information of specific vehicles. And, thetelematics terminal provides safety/security services, telecommunicationservices, broadcast services, navigation services, and so on.

The telematics terminal may further include a vehicle informationcenter, which collects and provides traffic (or vehicle) information tothe broadcasting station and/or the domestic carrier. The vehicleinformation center collects diverse traffic information via a variety ofpaths (e.g., input from operator (or manager), other servers passingthrough the network, or probe cars) and, then, provides the collectedinformation to the broadcasting station and/or the domestic carrier.Herein, LG Telecom (LGT), SK Telecom (SKT), KT Freetel (KTF), and so on,may correspond to the domestic carriers in the Republic of Korea.

The telematics terminal according to the present invention maycorrespond either to a telematics terminal that can receive broadcastdata or a telematics terminal that cannot receive broadcast signals. Thetelematics terminal that can receive broadcast data will be describedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The telematicsterminal may provide diverse types of services including trafficinformation services, emergency rescue services, remotediagnosis/control services, stolen vehicle tracking services, wirelessinternet services (e.g., finance update, news update, e-mail, messenger,VOD services), 2-dimensional/3-dimensional (2D/3D) navigation services,personal information/convenience services, phone call services, and soon, to the user using technologies based on position measurement system,wireless telecommunication network, and voice recognition. Also, thetelematics terminal may read (or play-back or reproduce) or write (orrecord) audio signals and video signals stored in various write/read (orrecord/reproduce) media, such as a cassette tape, CD, DVD, MP3, and soon, through a write/read media driver.

For example, the telematics terminal generates information on a stolenvehicle and transmits the generated to the domestic carrier. Herein, theinformation on a stolen vehicle generated from the telematics terminalincludes information that can acknowledge that a vehicle has been stolenwhen the theft of the corresponding vehicle is actually detected, thelicense plate number of the stolen vehicle, the current positioninformation, and so on. The domestic carrier then transmits theinformation on the stolen vehicle received from the telematics terminalto the broadcasting station. Herein, the position information may alsoinclude a direction vector in order to identify (or recognize) directioninformation.

The broadcasting station processes the information on the stolen vehicleinto the form of mobile broadcast service data, which are thenbroadcasted via the broadcasting network. Then, a receiving system thatcan receive and process the mobile broadcast service outputs theinformation on the stolen vehicle in the form of at least one of a voicemessage, an image, and a text. Any receiving system that can receivemobile broadcast services may be used in the present invention. Forexample, such receiving system may correspond to a mobile phone that canreceive mobile broadcast services and a telematics terminal that canreceive mobile broadcast services. In this case, the mobile phone ortelematics terminal receives mobile broadcast service data that aretransmitted through the broadcasting network, so as to demodulate anddecode the received data, thereby outputting the processed data to anoutput device. The information on the stolen vehicle that is outputtedto the output device may be transmitted to the user in the form of atleast one of a text, a voice message, graphic image, a still image, anda moving picture.

Whenever the telematics terminal detects the theft of the vehicle towhich the telematics terminal is equipped, the information on the stolenvehicle may be automatically transmitted to the domestic carrier via thetelecommunication network. Alternatively, the user may use the mobilephone to send a request for tracking the stolen vehicle to the domesticcarrier. Accordingly, the domestic carrier requests a current positioninformation to the telematics terminal via the telecommunicationnetwork. Then, when the requested position information is transmitted,information on the stolen vehicle including the requested positioninformation may be transmitted to the broadcasting station.

In another example of the present invention, the telematics terminalgenerates information on a crashed vehicle and transmits the generatedto the domestic carrier. Herein, the information on a crashed vehiclegenerated from the telematics terminal includes the current positioninformation of the corresponding vehicle. The domestic carrier thentransmits the information on the crashed vehicle received from thetelematics terminal to the broadcasting station. The broadcastingstation processes the information on the crashed vehicle into the formof mobile broadcast service data, which are then broadcasted via thebroadcasting network. Then, a receiving system that can receive andprocess the mobile broadcast service outputs the information on thecrashed vehicle in the form of at least one of a voice message, animage, and a text. Any receiving system that can receive mobilebroadcast services may be used in the present invention. For example,such receiving system may correspond to a mobile phone that can receivemobile broadcast services and a telematics terminal that can receivemobile broadcast services.

The broadcasting station may transmit mobile broadcast service datausing diverse transmission modes. In the present invention, thebroadcasting station transmits the mobile broadcast service data in theVSB mode. More specifically, when the broadcasting station transmits themobile broadcast service data in VSB mode, additional encoding may beperformed on the mobile broadcast service data, such as information on astolen vehicle or information on a crashed vehicle. Subsequently, theadditionally encoded mobile broadcast service data may be multiplexedwith the main broadcast service data. And, error correction encoding isperformed on the multiplexed data, which are then transmitted in aparade structure. The additional encoding process may include at leastone of block encoding at a coding rate of 1/H (H≧1), error correctionencoding, error detection encoding, row permutation processes. Thus, themobile broadcast service data may be provided with more robustness (orstrength), thereby being capable of responding more effectively to noiseand channel environment that undergoes frequent changes.

More specifically, each parade is repeated per parade identifier (e.g.,parade_id) to transmit the same mobile broadcast service. At this time,this transmission path will be referred to as a parade in the presentinvention. In other words, one or more parades are temporallymultiplexed in one physical channel determined by frequency.

For example, mobile broadcast service 1 and mobile broadcast service 2can be transmitted from parade alpha, mobile broadcast service 3 andmobile broadcast service 4 can be transmitted from parade beta, andmobile broadcast service 5 can be transmitted from parade gamma.

At this time, one parade may transmit either one RS frame or two RSframes, i.e., a primary RS frame and a secondary RS frame.

At this point, when data included in one RS frame assign into aplurality of data groups and the data groups are transmitted to thereceiving system. Herein, one data group may consist of a plurality ofmobile broadcast service data packets, wherein one mobile broadcastservice data packet includes a plurality of mobile broadcast servicedata bytes. Furthermore, the data group may be divided into a pluralityof regions based upon a degree of interference from the main broadcastservice data. At this point, a long known data sequence may beperiodically inserted in a region that has no interference from the mainbroadcast service data.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, each parademay transmit different types of mobile broadcast service data. Forexample, a parade alpha may transmit TV series, and a parade beta maytransmit information on a stolen vehicle.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, aplurality of data groups may co-exist with main broadcast service datapacket in the parade section, and only main broadcast service data mayexist in section between parade and parade.

More specifically, a data group including the mobile broadcast servicedata, such as information on a stolen vehicle or information on acrashed vehicle, may exist only in the parade section.

At this point, when the receiving system such as the telematics terminalreceives only mobile broadcast service data including trafficinformation, the receiving system may turn the power on only during aslot to which the data group of the parade, which transmits the mobilebroadcast service data, is assigned, and the receiving system may turnthe power off during the remaining slots, thereby reducing powerconsumption of the receiving system.

Meanwhile, in order to receive and decode the mobile broadcast servicedata, the receiving system requires system information. Such systeminformation may also be referred to as service information. The systeminformation may include channel information, event information, and soon.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the PSI/PSIP tables areapplied as the system information. However, the present invention is notlimited to the example set forth herein. More specifically, regardlessof the name, any protocol transmitting system information in a tableformat may be applied in the present invention. The PSI table is anMPEG-2 system standard defined for identifying the channels and theprograms. The PSIP table is an advanced television systems committee(ATSC) standard that can identify the channels and the programs. The PSItable may include a program association table (PAT), a conditionalaccess table (CAT), a program map table (PMT), and a network informationtable (NIT). Herein, the PAT corresponds to special information that istransmitted by a data packet having a PID of ‘0’. The PAT transmits PIDinformation of the PMT and PID information of the NIT corresponding toeach program. The CAT transmits information on a paid broadcastingsystem used by the transmitting system. The PMT transmits PIDinformation of a transport stream (TS) packet, in which programidentification numbers and individual bit sequences of video and audiodata configuring the corresponding program are transmitted, and the PIDinformation, in which PCR is transmitted. The NIT transmits informationof the actual transmission network.

The PSIP table may include a virtual channel table (VCT), a system timetable (STT), a rating region table (RRT), an extended text table (ETT),a direct channel change table (DCCT), an event information table (EIT),and a master guide table (MGT). The VCT transmits information on virtualchannels, such as channel information for selecting channels andinformation such as packet identification (PID) numbers for receivingthe audio and/or video data. More specifically, when the VCT is parsed,the PID of the audio/video data of the broadcast program may be known.Herein, the corresponding audio/video data are transmitted within thechannel along with the channel name and channel number. The STTtransmits information on the current data and timing information. TheRRT transmits information on region and consultation organs for programratings. The ETT transmits additional description of a specific channeland broadcast program. The EIT transmits information on virtual channelevents (e.g., program title, program start time, etc.). The DCCT/DCCSCTtransmits information associated with automatic (or direct) channelchange. And, the MGT transmits the versions and PID information of theabove-mentioned tables included in the PSIP.

Also, the basic unit of each table within the PSI/PSIP consists of asection unit. Herein, at least one section is combined to form a table.For example, the VCT may be divided into 256 sections. In this example,one section may hold a plurality of virtual channel information.However, each information on one virtual channel cannot be divided into2 or more sections.

Furthermore, a TS packet holding the mobile broadcast service data maycorrespond to either a packetized elementary stream (PES)-type or asection type. More specifically, PES-type information on a stolenvehicle is configured of TS packets, or section-type information on astolen vehicle is configured of TS packets. The broadcasting stationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention transmits mobilebroadcast service data in the forms of text, graphic, and still image asthe section type mobile broadcast service data. Alternatively, thebroadcasting station transmits mobile broadcast service data in theforms of audio or moving picture as the PES type mobile broadcastservice data.

In the present invention, the section type mobile broadcast service dataare included in a digital storage media-command and control (DSM-CC)section. Herein, according to the embodiment of the present invention,the DSM-CC section is configured of 188-byte unit TS packets.Furthermore, the packet identification (or identifier) of the TS packetconfiguring the DSM-CC section is included in a data service table(DST). When transmitting the DST, ‘0x95’ is assigned as the value of astream_type field included in the service location descriptor of the PMTor the VCT. More specifically, when the PMT or VCT stream_type fieldvalue is ‘0x95’, the telematics system may acknowledge that mobilebroadcast service data are being received. At this point, the mobilebroadcast service data may be transmitted by a data carousel method. Thedata carousel method corresponds to repeatedly transmitting identicaldata on a regular basis.

The telematics terminal may only use the tables included in the PSI, oronly use the tables included in the PSIP, or use a combination of thetable included in the PSI and PSIP, so as to parse and decode the mobilebroadcast service data that are being transmitted. In order to parse anddecode the mobile broadcast service data, in case of the PSI, at leastthe PAT and PMT are required, and in case of the PSIP, the VCT isrequired. For example, the PAT may include system informationtransmitting the mobile broadcast service data and a PID of the PMTcorresponding to the mobile broadcast service data (or program number).Also, the PMT may include a PID of a TS packet transmitting the mobilebroadcast service data. Furthermore, the VCT may include information onthe virtual channel transmitting the mobile broadcast service data and aPID of the TS packet transmitting the mobile broadcast service data.

Telematics Terminal

FIG. 2 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, whereinthe telematics terminal is provided with a broadcasting module that iscapable of receiving VSB mode mobile broadcast service data. Referringto FIG. 2, the telematics terminal includes a control unit (or centralprocess unit (CPU)) 100. Herein, the telematics terminal also includes aposition information module 101, a telecommunication module 102, abroadcasting module 103, a write/read media driver 104, an outerinterface unit 105, a user input unit 106, a vehicle network unit 107, anavigation unit 108, a voice processing unit 109, and a display unit110, which are all connected to the control unit 100. The control unit100 controls the overall operation of the telematics terminal and mayalso include a memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.) for storing diverseinformation required for the basic control of the telematics terminal.

The position information module 101 may include at least one of or botha GPS receiver (not shown) and a bearing sensor (not shown). Herein, theGPS receiver receives a current position information from a satelliteGPS at a predetermined cycle period (e.g., a cycle period of 0.5second). The bearing sensor receives position information provided fromthe vehicle. For example, the position information module 101 mainlyreceives the position information from the GPS receiver. However, insituations where the GPS receiver does not operate, the positioninformation module 101 may also use the bearing sensor. The bearingsensor receives signals from at least any one of an angle sensor, aterrestrial magnetic field sensor, and a vehicle speed sensor, therebycalculating a position of the vehicle based upon the received signals.

Hereinafter, in the description of the present invention, the positioninformation module 101 will include the GPS receiver and the bearingsensor for simplicity. According to the embodiment of the presentinvention, the position information module 101 corresponds to ahybrid-type position information module, which extracts GPS informationand compensation data for compensating the position of a moving vehicleusing a variety of sensors equipped in the vehicle. Then, the positioninformation module 101 uses the extracted compensation data so as tocompensate the position of the moving vehicle, thereby locating thecurrent position of the corresponding vehicle. As described above, theposition information module 101 may use both types of information. Yet,in some cases, the position information module 101 may only use the GPSinformation in order to acquire (or obtain) the desired positioninformation. The current position information of the correspondingvehicle generated from the position information module 101 is thenprovided to the control unit 100.

In searching for a path depending upon a user input, thetelecommunication module 102 may receive traffic information for settingup the shortest distance from the current position to the finaldestination. Alternatively, the telecommunication module 102 may alsoreceive information either via communication among vehicles or viatransmitters of a separate information center and/or roadsidetransmitters. The telecommunication module 102 may communicate with adigital interface that includes, for example, at least one of wirelessapplication protocol (WAP), code division multiple access (CDMA)evolution-data only (1xEV-DO), wireless local area network (LAN),dedicated short range communication (DSRC), 802.16, mobile internet,wireless broadband internet (WiBro), world interoperability formicrowave access (WiMAX), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), andso on. However, whenever required, the telecommunication module 102 maynot be provided with a telematics terminal.

When broadcasting station transmits information on a stolen vehicle andinformation on a crashed vehicle in the form of mobile broadcast servicedata, the broadcasting module 103 receives the information transmittedby the broadcasting station, so as to demodulate and decode the receivedinformation. The process of receiving mobile broadcast service data,thereby demodulating and decoding the received data performed by thebroadcasting module 103 will be described in detail in a later process.The broadcasting station according to the present invention modulatesthe mobile broadcast service data, such as information on a stolenvehicle and information on a crashed vehicle, in the VSB mode, therebyoutputting the modulated data. The process of the broadcasting module103 receiving and processing VSB mode mobile broadcast service dataaccording to an embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail.

Additionally, the broadcasting module 103 may receive digital multimediabroadcasting (DMB) mode and digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H)mode broadcast service data, and the broadcasting module 103 may alsoreceive FM or AM radio broadcast programs. For example, the broadcastingmodule 103 responds to a radio-on signal of a specific channel providedfrom the user input unit 106, so as to receive and process the radiosignal of the corresponding channel. Subsequently, the processed radiosignal passes through the control unit 100 and is outputted through thespeaker.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the broadcastingmodule 103 receives and processes VSB mode mobile broadcast services. Ifthe mobile broadcast service data received, demodulated, and decodedfrom the broadcasting module 103 correspond to A/V data, thecorresponding mobile broadcast service data pass through the controlunit 100 and are outputted to the display unit 110 and the speaker. Ifthe mobile broadcast service data correspond to audio-specific data,then the corresponding mobile broadcast service data may be outputtedonly to the speaker. However, if the mobile broadcast service datacorrespond to text or graphic data, then the corresponding mobilebroadcast service data may be outputted only to the display unit.

The position information module 101, the telecommunication 102, and thebroadcasting module 103 either respectively receive or transmit thecorresponding information through an antenna (not shown). At this point,the telematics terminal may be provided with an antenna for each of theposition information module 101, the telecommunication 102, and thebroadcasting module 103. Alternatively, the telematics terminal may alsobe provided with multiple antennas supporting a plurality of frequencybands.

The write/read media driver 104 may read (or play-back or reproduce)audio signals and video signals stored in various write/read (orrecord/reproduce) media, such as a cassette tape, CD, DVD, MP3, and soon. Alternatively, if a medium inserted in the write/read media driver104 corresponds to a writable (or recordable) medium, such as CD-RW, thewrite/read media driver 104 may also record the mobile broadcast servicedata being received through the broadcasting module 103. In this case,also, if the data played-back by the write/read media driver 104correspond to A/V data, the corresponding data pass through the controlunit 100 and are outputted to the display unit 110 and the speaker. Ifthe played-back data correspond to audio-specific data, then thecorresponding data may be outputted only to the speaker. However, if theplayed-back data correspond to text or image data, then thecorresponding data may be outputted only to the display unit.

The outer interface unit 105 is used to interface an external devicewith the control unit 100. Herein, the external device may include amobile storage device, iPOD, Bluetooth. The mobile storage device mayinclude a flash memory, a USB memory, a hard disk drive (HDD). Forexample, when using the bluetooth technology, a system including awireless device control and terminal equipped within a vehicle may beremotely controlled. The user input unit 106 is an input device fortransmitting a user command to the control unit 100. For example, theuser input unit 106 corresponds to a button or key equipped on thetelematics terminal or a remote controller. Also, a microphone, which isconnected to the voice processing unit 109, and the display unit 110 arealso included in the user input unit 106. At this point, the displayunit 110 may be interfaced with the user in the form of a touch screen.

More specifically, when operating the device, the user may use at leastone of the touch screen, the button (or key), the remote controller, andthe microphone. Also, since the environment of the vehicle is prone todangerous circumstances, the user should avoid operating the devicewhile driving the vehicle. In order to do so, the device may be operatedby voice control, and, accordingly, the user may be provided withservices via audio (or voice) messages. Thus, a safer environment whiledriving may be provided. For example, when an e-mail service isrequested, it would be extremely convenient to be able to provideinformation on the contents of an e-mail or information on the sender.Also, the voice controlled device may ensure safer than when operatingthe device by hand.

The display unit 110 may display a main screen so as to enable the userto select the operation of the device or a specific function based uponthe control of the control unit 100. The user may select a specificelement of the menu screen by using a button (or key) on the telematicsterminal or a remote controller. The user may also make a selection bytouching the corresponding element from the touch screen. Morespecifically, the user may select a wanted (or requested) mobilebroadcast service via the touch screen. Also, by touching the touchscreen, the user may enable the audio or video file, which is pre-storedin the write/read media driver, to be played-back. By touching the touchscreen, the user may also view the wanted (or requested) mobilebroadcast service. Furthermore, the user may also use a navigationdevice, such as a global positioning system (GPS), so as to select anyone of a route guidance system, which provides road (or travel route)guidance to the user from a current position to the wanted destination.

The voice processing unit 109 processes voice guidance data respectiveof the route search processed by the navigation unit 108 and outputs theprocessed data to the speaker. Alternatively, the voice processing unit109 processes a voice (or audio) signal inputted through thetelecommunication module 102 and outputs the processed signal to thespeaker. Also, the voice processing unit 109 analyzes the voice of theuser, which is inputted through the microphone, and provides theanalyzed result to the control unit 100. For example, if the inputtedvoice signal corresponds to a device operation command, the control unit100 operates the corresponding device. And, if the inputted voice signalcorresponds to the data that are to be transmitted to a remote sitethrough a wireless telecommunication network, the voice signal isoutputted to the telecommunication module 102. At this point, since thevoice signal can be transmitted and received in two ways (orbi-directionally) through the wireless telecommunication network, ahandsfree function can be embodied by using the speaker and microphone,which are already provided herein, without having to equip a separatehandsfree kit.

The display unit 110 corresponds to a screen for displaying images andmay consist of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a plasma displaydevice, an organic EL display device, and so on. A head-up display (HUD)technology, which displays holographic images onto the windshield placedin front of the driver, may be applied to the display unit 110. Thevehicle network unit 107 performs data and control communication betweenthe telematics terminal and other devices equipped in the vehicle. And,depending upon the usage, a serial data bus, such as a controller areanetwork (CAN), a media oriented systems transport (MOST), and anIDB-1394, is used in the vehicle network unit 107. More specifically, anetwork technology for vehicles may broadly include a network technologyfor multimedia and a network technology for electronic devices. Herein,the network technology for multimedia controls multimedia devices, suchas audio devices, video devices, navigation devices, and gaming devices.And, the network technology for electronic devices controls essentialvehicle body parts, such as the engine and handbrake. For example, theCAN may be used in the network technology for electronic devices, andthe MOST and the IDB-1394 may be used in the network technology formultimedia.

The navigation unit 108 controls a map storage unit 111, which storestravel route search, map matching, travel route guidance, and mapinformation. The navigation unit 108 receives map information via thetelecommunication module 102 or the broadcasting module 103, therebynewly storing the received map information to the map storage unit 111or updating the pre-stored map information. Herein, the map informationreceived from the broadcasting module 103, which is then stored, may beused to match and display the current position of the telematicsterminal or to provide a travel route from the current position to aninputted destination when the user inputs information for a travel routesearch. For example, when the user selects a travel route searchfunction, the current position information of the corresponding vehicle,which is generated from the position information module 101, passesthrough the control unit 100 so as to be transmitted to the navigationunit 108.

Accordingly, the navigation unit 108 extracts map information, which isto be matched with the position information received from the positioninformation module 101, and GIS information from the map storage unit111. Then, the navigation unit 108 matches the extracted informationwith the received position information, thereby indicating the currentposition within the map displayed on the display unit 110. Additionally,the navigation unit 108 may also output a route guidance broadcast (ormessage) or a warning broadcast (or message) in the form of a voicemessage through the speaker. Herein, the route guidance messagecorresponds to a response to a movement direction of the vehicle. Also,the navigation unit 108 may announce the warning message in order tonotify or warn the driver that the vehicle is nearing an intersection(or crossroad) or a bottleneck section.

When the position information module 101 receives a user inputinformation (e.g., a request for a route search of a specificdestination or point of interest (POI)) through the user input unit 106,the position information module 101 receives the position information ofthe specific destination or point of interest based upon the currentposition information. Thereafter, the position information module 101may send the received information to the navigation unit 108. Thenavigation unit 108 then receives the position information of thecurrent telematics terminal and the route information from the currentposition to the requested destination from the position informationmodule 101. Subsequently, the navigation unit 108 extracts mapinformation stored in the map storage unit 111, thereby matching thereceived position information with the extracted map information.

When the user inputs information on the requested destination, thenavigation unit 108 searches for a travel route from its currentposition to the requested destination using the position informationmodule 101. Then, the navigation unit 108 displays the searched travelroute or an optimum route on the display unit 110. More specifically,the telematics terminal searches for all possible travel routes from thecurrent position to the requested destination, thereby providingguidance information to the user of the route having the shortest traveltime. However, in some cases, the navigation unit 108 may also providethe user with the optimum travel route or a travel route also indicatingtoll roads (or expressways). Herein, the travel route may be searcheddirectly by the telematics terminal itself.

Alternatively, the optimum travel routes or detour travel routesreflecting road congestion information may be provided by receivingtraffic information from an external source using the telecommunicationmodule 102 or the broadcasting module 103. Additionally, by reflectingthe real-time traffic information, the navigation unit 108 may alsoautomatically search for another travel route with better roadconditions and provide the newly searched travel route to the user, evenwhile the previous travel guidance information is being provided to theuser. In addition to the route guidance information, the navigation unit108 may also provide the user with information on traffic conditions,stolen vehicles, accidents, emergency conditions and disasters.

More specifically, depending upon the user's request (e.g., auto theftreport), the domestic carrier may send a request for a current positioninformation of the stolen vehicle to the telecommunication module 102via a wireless telecommunication network. In this case, thetelecommunication module 102 transmits the information on a stolenvehicle generated from the position information module 101, wherein theinformation includes the current position information of the stolenvehicle. Accordingly, the domestic carrier transmits the information onthe stolen vehicle received from the telematics terminal to thebroadcasting station.

In another example, depending upon the user's request (e.g., auto theftreport), the broadcasting station may send a request for a currentposition information of the stolen vehicle to the domestic carrier.Then, the domestic carrier may request the current position informationof the stolen vehicle to the telecommunication module 102 of thetelematics terminal via the wireless telecommunication network. In thiscase, the telecommunication module 102 transmits the information on astolen vehicle generated from the position information module 101,wherein the information includes the current position information of thestolen vehicle. Accordingly, the domestic carrier transmits theinformation on the stolen vehicle received from the telematics terminalto the broadcasting station.

Also, when the telematics terminal senses that the vehicle is beingstolen, the telematics terminal automatically may generate informationon a stolen vehicle including information for identifying (orrecognizing) the stolen vehicle, the license plate number, the currentposition information, and send the generated information to the domesticcarrier through the telecommunication module 102. Accordingly, thedomestic carrier transmits the information on the stolen vehiclereceived from the telematics terminal to the broadcasting station.Herein, the telematics terminal according to the present invention maydetect the stealing (or theft) of the vehicle using various methods. Forexample, the telematics terminal may determine an auto-theft situation,when the telematics terminal senses an impact from the outside or airbaginflation or forced opening of the car door or window, which areinitially locked. Also, the telematics terminal may determine anauto-theft situation, when the telematics terminal senses a change inspeed of the vehicle after an impact from the outside of the vehicle.The method of detecting an auto-theft situation of a vehicle is notincluded in the scope of the present invention. Therefore, a related artmethod may be used herein.

The information on a stolen vehicle includes at least one of aninformation for identifying the stolen vehicle, license plate number ofthe stolen vehicle, and the current position information of the stolenvehicle. The information on a stolen vehicle may further includeinformation associated with the vehicle itself, such as the car model,year of fabrication, and exterior shade (or color) Also, the informationon a stolen vehicle may further include information associated with theowner of the vehicle, such as name, registration ID number, mobile phonenumber, and so on, of the car owner. Finally, the information on astolen vehicle may further include information associated with thetelematics terminal equipped in the stolen vehicle, such as the uniqueserial number of the telematics terminal.

In yet another example, depending upon the user's request (e.g., caraccident report, such as rear-end collisions or other types ofcollision), the domestic carrier may send a request for a currentposition information of the crashed vehicle to the telecommunicationmodule 102 via a wireless telecommunication network. In this case, thetelecommunication module 102 transmits the information on a crashedvehicle generated from the position information module 101, wherein theinformation includes the current position information of the crashedvehicle. Accordingly, the domestic carrier transmits the information onthe crashed vehicle received from the telematics terminal to thebroadcasting station.

In another example, depending upon the user's request (e.g., caraccident report, such as rear-end collisions or other types ofcollision), the broadcasting station may send a request for a currentposition information of the crashed vehicle to the domestic carrier.Then, the domestic carrier may request the current position informationof the crashed vehicle to the telecommunication module 102 of thetelematics terminal via the wireless telecommunication network. In thiscase, the telecommunication module 102 transmits the information on acrashed vehicle generated from the position information module 101,wherein the information includes the current position information of thecrashed vehicle. Accordingly, the domestic carrier transmits theinformation on the crashed vehicle received from the telematics terminalto the broadcasting station.

The broadcasting station receives the information on a stolen vehicle orthe information of a crashed vehicle, which includes positioninformation of the corresponding vehicle, from the domestic carrier.Then, the broadcasting station processes the received information tomobile broadcast service data, which are then broadcasted via thebroadcasting network. The receiving system capable of receiving theprocessed mobile broadcast service data, such as the broadcasting module103, may extract and decode the information on a stolen vehicle or theinformation of a crashed vehicle from the mobile broadcast service data.Thereafter, the broadcasting module 103 outputs the decoded mobilebroadcast service data in the form of at least one of a voice message,text, and image.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block view showing a method for tracking a stolenvehicle in a digital broadcasting system according to a first embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a process of tracking astolen vehicle, when the auto theft has been detected by a sensorincluded in the telematics terminal according to the present invention.More specifically, when the telematics terminal detects (or senses) thatthe vehicle to which the terminal is equipped is being stolen via thesensor, the telematics terminal generates a current position informationof the corresponding vehicle and transmits the generated information tothe domestic carrier via the telecommunication network (S301). Theinformation on the stolen vehicle, which is transmitted to the domesticcarrier, may further include information identifying the stolen vehicle,information on the vehicle, such as the license plate number, and theunique serial number of the telematics terminal.

The domestic carrier receives the information on the stolen vehiclereceived from the telematics terminal and outputs the receivedinformation to the broadcasting station (S302). At this point, thedomestic carrier may engage a phone call with the user in order toinquire whether or not the user wishes to transmit the information onthe stolen vehicle to the broadcasting station for broadcasting. This isbecause the stolen vehicle tracking service may be used when a vehicleis actually stolen, and may also be used when the user forgot where heor she has parked his or her vehicle, or when the user wishes to locatethe vehicle of his or her spouse. Therefore, the domestic carriertransmits the information on the stolen vehicle to the broadcastingstation only when requested by the user.

When the information on the stolen vehicle is transmitted from thedomestic carrier, the broadcasting station processes the receivedinformation on the stolen vehicle to mobile broadcast service data,which are then transmitted via the broadcasting network (S303).Accordingly, the receiving system capable of receiving mobile broadcastservice data, such as a telematics terminal that can receive broadcastdata or a mobile terminal that can receive broadcast data, extracts theinformation on the stolen vehicle, which is transmitted in the form ofmobile broadcast service data. Thereafter, the receiving system decodesthe extracted information, which is then outputted in the form of atleast one of a voice message, text, and image. For example, thereceiving system outputs the license plate number of the stolen vehicleor the current position information of the stolen vehicle in the form ofat least one of a voice message, text, and image.

Also, the broadcasting system may send the information on the stolenvehicle transmitted from the domestic carrier to government offices on aregular basis, so that the corresponding government office can track thestolen vehicle (S304). Alternatively, the domestic carrier may transmitthe information on the stolen vehicle to government offices, so that thecorresponding government office can track the stolen vehicle. Forexample, the current position information of the stolen vehicle may betransmitted to a police station on a regular basis. Herein, thegovernment offices may include police stations, fire stations,hospitals, 119 (or 911) rescue party, automobile service centers, and soon. The telematics terminal transmits the information on the stolenvehicle to the domestic carrier on a regular basis for a set period oftime until the telematics terminal receives a command to end thetransmission of the vehicle position from the domestic carrier or user.

The receiving system capable of receiving mobile broadcast signals, suchas a telematics terminal or a mobile phone, is capable of locating itscurrent position. Therefore, the receiving system compares theinformation on the stolen vehicle received from the broadcasting stationwith the current position of the receiving system. Then, based upon thecompared result, the receiving system may either discard the receivedinformation on the stolen vehicle without processing or receive theinformation on the stolen vehicle, which is then outputted in the formof at least one of a voice message, text, and image.

For example, when the stolen vehicle is within a predetermined range,the receiving system reports (or notifies) that the stolen vehicle is ina proximate area. Then, the receiving system may provide additionalservices such as “See info on stolen vehicle” or “See map”.Alternatively, if the stolen vehicle is not detected within thepredetermined range, the receiving system does not process the receivedinformation on the stolen vehicle. In other words, since the generalusers are mostly disinterested in other people's business or matters,they usually do not indicate the whereabouts of a stolen vehicle.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of displaying the information on thestolen vehicle on the screen of a telematics terminal that can receivebroadcast data in the form of subtitles. For example, a plurality ofmenu elements may be displayed along with a subtitle such as “A stolenvehicle is being tracked within a radius of X kilometers (km) Pleaseselect a desired menu.” The menu elements may include a “Cancel” elementfor canceling the display of the information on the stolen vehicle andreturning to the initial function, a “See Information” element forshowing the detailed information of the stolen vehicle, and a “See Map”element for verifying the actual position of the stolen vehicle.

At this point, when the user selects “See Information”, detailedinformation such as license plate number of the stolen vehicle, time ofthe auto-theft, and so on, may be displayed. Also, when the user selects“See Map”, the traces of the stolen vehicle may be displayed inreal-time on a portion of the screen or on the entire screen. Herein,the on-screen display displaying the map may include a “Cancel” elementfor dismissing the displayed map and returning to the initial functionof the terminal, and a “Call 112” element so that the user can make aphone call to report the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of displaying the information on thestolen vehicle on the screen of a mobile phone that can receivebroadcast data in the form of subtitles. As in the telematics terminalshown in FIG. 5, the mobile phone of FIG. 6 may notify the informationon the stolen vehicle and allow the user to select a particular menu.For example, a plurality of menu elements may be displayed along with asubtitle such as “Stolen vehicle being tracked”, since the screen of themobile phone is small. The menu elements may include a “Cancel” elementfor canceling the display of the information on the stolen vehicle andreturning to the initial function, a “See Information” element forshowing the detailed information of the stolen vehicle, and a “See Map”element for verifying the actual position of the stolen vehicle.

At this point, when the user selects “See Information”, detailedinformation such as license plate number of the stolen vehicle, time ofthe auto-theft, and so on, may be displayed. Also, when the user selects“See Map”, the traces of the stolen vehicle may be displayed inreal-time on a portion of the screen or on the entire screen. Herein,the on-screen display displaying the map may include a “Cancel” elementfor dismissing the displayed map and returning to the initial functionof the terminal, and a “Call 112” element so that the user can make aphone call to report the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle.

More specifically, the information on the stolen vehicle may bedisplayed in the form of a subtitle on the display screen of thebroadcast service that is currently being provided. Alternatively, theinformation on the stolen vehicle may be displayed in the form of astill image or a moving image after pausing the broadcast service thatis currently being provided. Furthermore, the information on the stolenvehicle may be provided in the form of a voice message through thespeaker. The above-described on-screen display configuration of theinformation on the stolen vehicle is merely exemplary. The configurationof the on-screen display may vary. Therefore, the present invention willnot be limited to the examples presented herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a method for tracking a stolen vehicle,when the telematics terminal does not have any auto-theft sensingfunction, or when the user has reported a stolen vehicle by phone. Morespecifically, when an auto-theft has occurred, the owner of the car oran assignee of the car owner calls the broadcasting station to report astolen vehicle (S401). The caller (owner or assignee) also providesinformation such as a unique serial number of the telematics terminalequipped in the stolen vehicle or a license plate number of the stolenvehicle. At this point, the broadcasting station inquires whether thecaller wishes to broadcast the theft of the vehicle (or the stolenvehicle). When the caller agrees to broadcast the stolen vehicle, thebroadcasting station requests the current position information of thestolen vehicle to the domestic carrier. And, in order to do so, thebroadcasting system transmits the information on the reported stolenvehicle is to the domestic carrier (S402). The information on the stolenvehicle may include the name and phone number of the car owner, thelicense plate number of the stolen vehicle, and the unique serial numberof the telematics terminal equipped in the stolen vehicle.

The domestic carrier refers to the information on the stolen vehicletransmitted from the broadcasting station and requests for a currentposition information of the stolen vehicle to the correspondingtelematics terminal (S403). Subsequently, when the current positioninformation of the stolen vehicle is transmitted from the correspondingtelematics terminal (S404), the current position information is thentransmitted to the broadcasting station (S405). The telematics terminalregularly transmits the information on the stolen vehicle to thedomestic carrier until it receives a command to end transmission of theposition information.

The broadcasting station processes the received information on thestolen vehicle to mobile broadcast service data, which are thentransmitted via the broadcasting network (S406). Accordingly, areceiving system capable of receiving the mobile broadcast service data,such as the telematics terminal capable of receiving broadcast data, asshown in FIG. 5, and the mobile terminal capable of receiving broadcastdata, as shown in FIG. 6, extracts the information on the stolen vehiclethat is transmitted in the form of the mobile broadcast service data.Then, the receiving system decodes the extracted information, which isthen outputted in the form of at least one of a voice message, text, orimage. Furthermore, the broadcasting station outputs the information onthe stolen vehicle transmitted from the domestic carrier to acorresponding government office at a regular basis. Thus, the governmentoffice may be able to track the stolen vehicle (S407).

FIG. 7A illustrates a flow chart showing the process steps of a methodfor processing a car accident. In other words, FIG. 7A illustrates anexample of a method for processing a car accident, when the telematicsterminal detects a rear-end collision or a different type of accident(or collision) using a sensor. More specifically, when the telematicsterminal detects a rear-end collision or other types of car accidentusing its sensor, the telematics terminal generates information on acrashed vehicle including a current position information of thecorresponding vehicle and, then, transmits the generated information tothe domestic carrier via the telecommunication network (S501). Herein,the position information may also include a direction vector in order toidentify (or recognize) direction information. The information on thecrashed vehicle, which is transmitted to the domestic carrier, mayfurther include information identifying the crashed vehicle (i.e.,information identifying that a car-crash has occurred), information onthe vehicle, such as the license plate number, and the unique serialnumber of the telematics terminal.

The domestic carrier receives the information on the crashed vehiclereceived from the telematics terminal and outputs the receivedinformation to the broadcasting station (S502). When the information onthe crashed vehicle is transmitted from the domestic carrier, thebroadcasting station processes the received information on the crashedvehicle to mobile broadcast service data, which are then transmitted viathe broadcasting network (S503). Accordingly, a receiving system capableof receiving the mobile broadcast service data, such as the telematicsterminal capable of receiving broadcast data, as shown in FIG. 5, andthe mobile terminal capable of receiving broadcast data, as shown inFIG. 6, extracts the information on the crashed vehicle that istransmitted in the form of the mobile broadcast service data. Then, thereceiving system decodes the extracted information, which is thenoutputted in the form of at least one of a voice message, text, orimage.

Furthermore, the broadcasting station outputs the information on thecrashed vehicle transmitted from the domestic carrier to a correspondinggovernment office at a regular basis. Thus, the government office may beable to perform traffic settlement and road clearance, emergency rescue,and so on (S504). Herein, the government offices may include policestations, fire stations, automobile service centers, and so on. Morespecifically, the information on the stolen vehicle may be displayed inthe form of a subtitle on the display screen of the broadcast servicethat is currently being provided. Alternatively, the information on thestolen vehicle may be displayed in the form of a still image or a movingimage after pausing the broadcast service that is currently beingprovided. Furthermore, the information on the stolen vehicle may beprovided in the form of a voice message through the speaker.

Meanwhile, the method of performing traffic settlement and roadclearance after a car accident may be processed similarly, as the methodof tracking a stolen vehicle shown in FIG. 4, when the telematicsterminal does not have any function that can automatically sense (ordetect) the occurrence of a car accident, or when a user reports a caraccident by phone. More specifically, when a car accident occurs, theowner of the car or an assignee of the car owner calls the broadcastingstation to report a stolen vehicle. The caller (owner or assignee) alsoprovides to the broadcasting station information such as a unique serialnumber of the telematics terminal equipped in the stolen vehicle, typeof car accident, size of the accident, a license plate number of thecrashed vehicle, and so on.

If the unique serial number of the telematics terminal is given (orknown), the broadcasting station requests a current position informationof the crashed vehicle to the domestic carrier. Alternatively, if theunique serial number of the telematics terminal is not given, thebroadcasting station configures and processes mobile broadcast servicedata based upon the reported information of the crashed vehicle, therebytransmitting the mobile broadcast service data through the broadcastingnetwork. Accordingly, a receiving system capable of receiving the mobilebroadcast service data, such as the telematics terminal capable ofreceiving broadcast data, as shown in FIG. 5, and the mobile terminalcapable of receiving broadcast data, as shown in FIG. 6, extracts theinformation on the crashed vehicle that is transmitted in the form ofthe mobile broadcast service data. Then, the receiving system decodesthe extracted information, which is then outputted in the form of atleast one of a voice message, text, or image.

Furthermore, the broadcasting station outputs the information on thecrashed vehicle transmitted from the domestic carrier to a correspondinggovernment office at a regular basis. Thus, the government office may beable to perform traffic settlement and road clearance, emergency rescue,and so on. Herein, the government offices may include police stations,fire stations, automobile service centers, and so on. At this point, thereceiving system capable of receiving mobile broadcast service dataverifies whether the location of the accident is within a predeterminedrange of the receiving system. Then, depending upon the result, thereceiving system may either receive information on the accident andnotify the user or discard the received information without processing.For example, if the location of the accident is within a predeterminedrange of the corresponding receiving system, the receiving system mayprocess the received information and notify the user of the accident.Alternatively, when the receiving system is in a travel route searchmode, the system may verify whether an accident has occurred within thetravel route of the user. Then, depending upon the result, the receivingsystem may either receive information on the accident and notify theuser or discard the received information without processing.

FIG. 7B illustrates an example of an on-screen display of a receivingsystem (e.g., a telematics terminal or mobile phone capable of receivingmobile broadcast service data), when an accident has occurred within thetravel route of the user. For example, a plurality of menu elements maybe displayed along with a subtitle such as “An emergency incident hasoccurred within the current travel route. Please select a desired menu.”The menu elements may include a “Start New Search” element for searchinga new travel route to avoid the location of the accident, a “SeeInformation” element for showing the detailed information of the caraccident, and a “See Map” element for verifying the actual position ofthe car accident. At this point, when the user selects “Start NewSearch”, the system searches for a new travel route so that the user canavoid the location of the accident. Also, when the user selects “SeeInformation”, detailed information such as accident briefs, estimatedtime until complete traffic settlement and road clearance, and so on,may be displayed. Also, when the user selects “See Map”, the traces ofthe stolen vehicle may be displayed in real-time on a portion of thescreen or on the entire screen, as shown in FIG. 7C.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive mobilebroadcast service data according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. Herein, the mobile broadcast service data may includeinformation on a stolen vehicle and/or information on a crashed vehicle.More specifically, referring to FIG. 8, the broadcasting module includesa signal receiver 611, a demodulator 612, a channel equalizer 613, aknown sequence detector 614, a mobile broadcast service data processingunit 615, a demultiplexer 616, an audio/video (A/V) decoder 617, a datadecoder 618, a program specific information/program and systeminformation protocol (PSI/PSIP) information storage unit 619, anapplication controller 620, a data storage unit 621, and a flash memory622. Based upon the control of the application controller 620 or theouter interface unit 105, the flash memory 622 either stores or readsthe data stored therein. Herein, the flash memory 622 may correspond toa non-volatile memory. According to the present invention, other typesof non-volatile memory may be used instead of the flash memory 222.

As shown in FIG. 9, the mobile broadcast service data processing unit615 may also include a block decoder 711, a RS frame decoder 712, and adata derandomizer 713. Apart from the broadcasting module 103, theelements and operation of the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 8 areidentical to those of the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 2.Therefore, detailed description of the same will be omitted forsimplicity.

The signal receiver 611 is provided with a tuner. Herein, the tunertunes a frequency of a particular channel and down-converts the tunedfrequency to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. Then, the IF signalof each tuner is outputted to the demodulator 612. At this point, theinformation on a stolen vehicle and/or information on a crashed vehiclemay be multiplexed with the broadcast service data, thereby receivedthrough the same channel. Otherwise, the information on a stolen vehicleand/or information on a crashed vehicle may be received through aseparate channel. Herein, a channel manager of the applicationcontroller 620 controls the signal receiver 611. Also, the result andstrength of the broadcast signals corresponding to each tuned channelare reported to the channel manager. Herein, the data received by thefrequency of the specific channel may include mobile broadcast servicedata, main broadcast service data, and table data for decoding themobile broadcast service data and the main broadcast service data.According to the present invention, the mobile broadcast service datamay include information on a stolen vehicle and/or information on acrashed vehicle.

The demodulator 612 receives the IF signal outputted from the signalreceiver 611, so as to perform self-gain control, carrier wave recoveryand timing recovery, thereby being changed (or converted) to a basebandsignal. Then, the converted baseband signal is outputted to the channelequalizer 613 and the known sequence detector 614.

The channel equalizer 613 compensates the distortion of the channelincluded in the demodulated signal and then outputs theerror-compensated signal to the block decoder 711 of the mobilebroadcast service data processing unit 615.

At this point, the known sequence detector 614 detects the knownsequence place inserted by the transmitting end from the input/outputdata of the demodulator 612 (i.e., the data prior to the demodulationprocess or the data after the demodulation process). Thereafter, theplace information (or position indicator) along with the symbol sequenceof the known data, which are generated from the detected place, isoutputted to the demodulator 612 and the channel equalizer 613. Also,the known sequence detector 614 outputs a set of information to theblock decoder 711. This set of information is used to allow the blockdecoder 711 of the receiving system to identify the mobile broadcastservice data that are processed with additional encoding from thetransmitting system and the main broadcast service data that are notprocessed with additional encoding.

The demodulator 612 uses the known data (or sequence) position indicatorand the known data symbol sequence during the timing and/or carrier waverecovery, thereby enhancing the demodulating performance. Similarly, thechannel equalizer 613 uses the known sequence position indicator and theknown data symbol sequence so as to enhance the equalizing performance.Moreover, the decoding result of the block decoder 711 may be fed-backto the channel equalizer 613, thereby enhancing the equalizingperformance.

The channel equalizer 613 may perform channel equalization by using aplurality of methods. An example of estimating a channel impulseresponse (CIR), so as to perform channel equalization, will be given inthe description of the present invention. Most particularly, an exampleof estimating the CIR in accordance with each region within the datagroup, which is hierarchically divided and transmitted from thetransmitting system, and applying each CIR differently will also bedescribed herein. Furthermore, by using the known data, the place andcontents of which is known in accordance with an agreement between thetransmitting system and the receiving system, and the fieldsynchronization data, so as to estimate the CIR, the present inventionmay be able to perform channel equalization with more stability.

Herein, the data group that is inputted for the equalization process isdivided into regions A to D, as shown in FIG. 10 a. More specifically,in the example of the present invention, each region A, B, C, and D arefurther divided into MPH blocks B4 to B7, MPH blocks B3 and B8, MPHblocks B2 and B9, MPH blocks B1 and B10, respectively.

More specifically, a data group can be assigned and transmitted amaximum the number of 4 in a VSB frame in the transmitting system. Inthis case, all data group do not include field synchronization data. Inthe present invention, the data group including the fieldsynchronization data performs channel-equalization using the fieldsynchronization data and known data. And the data group not includingthe field synchronization data performs channel-equalization using theknown data. For example, the data of the MPH block B3 including thefield synchronization data performs channel-equalization using the CIRcalculated from the field synchronization data area and the CIRcalculated from the first known data area. Also, the data of the MPHblocks B1 and B2 performs channel-equalization using the CIR calculatedfrom the field synchronization data area and the CIR calculated from thefirst known data area. Meanwhile, the data of the MPH blocks B4 to B6not including the field synchronization data performschannel-equalization using CIRS calculated from the first known dataarea and the third known data area.

As described above, the present invention uses the CIR estimated fromthe field synchronization data and the known data sequences in order toperform channel equalization on data within the data group. At thispoint, each of the estimated CIRs may be directly used in accordancewith the characteristics of each region within the data group.Alternatively, a plurality of the estimated CIRs may also be eitherinterpolated or extrapolated so as to create a new CIR, which is thenused for the channel equalization process.

Herein, when a value F(Q) of a function F(x) at a particular point Q anda value F(S) of the function F(x) at another particular point S areknown, interpolation refers to estimating a function value of a pointwithin the section between points Q and S. Linear interpolationcorresponds to the simplest form among a wide range of interpolationoperations. The linear interpolation described herein is merelyexemplary among a wide range of possible interpolation methods. And,therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the examples setforth herein.

Alternatively, when a value F(Q) of a function F(x) at a particularpoint Q and a value F(S) of the function F(x) at another particularpoint S are known, extrapolation refers to estimating a function valueof a point outside of the section between points Q and S. Linearextrapolation is the simplest form among a wide range of extrapolationoperations. Similarly, the linear extrapolation described herein ismerely exemplary among a wide range of possible extrapolation methods.And, therefore, the present invention is not limited only to theexamples set forth herein.

Meanwhile, if the data being inputted to the block decoder 711, afterbeing channel-equalized by the equalizer 613, correspond to the datahaving both block encoding and trellis encoding performed thereon (i.e.,the data within the RS frame, the signaling information data, etc.) bythe transmitting system, trellis decoding and block decoding processesare performed on the inputted data as inverse processes of thetransmitting system. Alternatively, if the data being inputted to theblock decoder 711 correspond to the data having only trellis encodingperformed thereon (i.e., the main broadcast service data), and not theblock encoding, only the trellis decoding process is performed on theinputted data as the inverse process of the transmitting system.

At this point, the data group decoded by the block decoder 711 isinputted to the RS frame decoder 712, whereas the main broadcast servicedata are not outputted to the RS frame decoder 712. If a main broadcastservice data processing unit for processing the main broadcast servicedata is provided, then, instead of being discarded, the main broadcastservice data may be sent to the main broadcast service data processingunit. In this case, the main broadcast service data processing unit mayinclude a data deinterleaver, a RS decoder, and a derandomizer. However,the main broadcast service data processing unit may not be required in asystem structure that only receives the mobile broadcast service dataand may, therefore, be omitted.

The trellis decoded and block decoded data by the block decoder 711 arethen outputted to the RS frame decoder 712. More specifically, the blockdecoder 711 removes the known data, data used for trellisinitialization, and signaling information data, MPEG header, which havebeen inserted in the data group, and the RS parity data, which have beenadded by the RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder or non-systematic RSencoder of the transmitting system. Then, the block decoder 711 outputsthe processed data to the RS frame decoder 712. Herein, the removal ofthe data may be performed before the block decoding process, or may beperformed during or after the block decoding process.

If the inputted data correspond to the data having only trellis encodingperformed thereon and not block encoding, the block decoder 711 performsViterbi (or trellis) decoding on the inputted data so as to output ahard decision value or to perform a hard-decision on a soft decisionvalue, thereby outputting the result.

Meanwhile, if the inputted data correspond to the data having both blockencoding process and trellis encoding process performed thereon, theblock decoder 711 outputs a soft decision value with respect to theinputted data.

In other words, if the inputted data correspond to data being processedwith block encoding by the block processor and being processed withtrellis encoding by the trellis encoding module, in the transmittingsystem, the block decoder 711 performs a decoding process and a trellisdecoding process on the inputted data as inverse processes of thetransmitting system. At this point, the RS frame encoder of thepre-processor included in the transmitting system may be viewed as anouter (or external) encoder. And, the trellis encoder may be viewed asan inner (or internal) encoder. When decoding such concatenated codes,in order to allow the block decoder 711 to maximize its performance ofdecoding externally encoded data, the decoder of the internal codeshould output a soft decision value.

Meanwhile, the RS frame decoder 712 receives only the error correctionencoded mobile broadcast service data (i.e., the RS-encoded andCRC-encoded mobile broadcast service data) that are transmitted from theblock decoder 711.

The RS frame decoder 712 performs an inverse process of the RS frameencoder included in the transmitting system so as to correct the errorswithin the RS frame. Then, the RS frame decoder 712 adds the 1-byte MPEGsynchronization data, which had been removed during the RS frameencoding process, to the error-corrected mobile broadcast service datapacket. Thereafter, the processed data packet is outputted to the dataderandomizer 713. The data derandomizer 713 performs a derandomizingprocess, which corresponds to the inverse process of the randomizerincluded in the transmitting system, on the received mobile broadcastservice data. Thereafter, the derandomized data are outputted, therebyobtaining the mobile broadcast service data transmitted from thetransmitting system.

The mobile broadcast service data processed as described above by themobile broadcast service data processing unit 615 are inputted to thedemultiplexer 616.

Based upon the control of the data decoder 618, if the mobile broadcastservice data packet, which is outputted from the data derandomizer 713of the mobile broadcast service data processing unit 615, corresponds toa PES type mobile broadcast service data packet, the demultiplexer 616outputs the mobile broadcast service data packet to the A/V decoder 617.Alternatively, if the mobile broadcast service data packet correspondsto a section-type mobile broadcast service data packet, thedemultiplexer 616 outputs the corresponding mobile broadcast servicedata packet to the data decoder 618.

Herein, the section-type mobile broadcast service data packet outputtedto the data decoder 618 may correspond either to mobile broadcastservice data or a PSI/PSIP table.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the mobilebroadcast service data carried by the payload within the section-typemobile broadcast service data packet corresponds to a DSM-CC section. Atthis point, based upon the control of the data decoder 618, thedemultiplexer 616 performs section filtering, thereby discardingduplicate sections and outputting only the non-duplicate sections to thedata decoder 618. Also, by performing section filtering, thedemultiplexer 616 may output only a wanted (or desired) section (e.g., asection configuring a VCT) to the data decoder 618. The VCT includesinformation indicating the type of the mobile broadcast service datathat are being received. The section filtering method may include amethod of verifying the PID of a table defined by the MGT, such as theVCT, prior to performing the section filtering process. Alternatively,the section filtering method may also include a method of directlyperforming the section filtering process without verifying the MGT, whenthe VCT includes a fixed PID (i.e., a base PID). At this point, thedemultiplexer 616 performs the section filtering process by referring toa table_id field, a version_number field, a section_number field, etc.

The data decoder 618 parses sections of the demultiplexed PSI/PSIPtables. Then, the data decoder 618 stores the parsed result in thePSI/PSIP information storage unit 619 as database. For example, the datadecoder 618 groups sections having the same table identifier (table_id)so as to form a table. Then, the data decoder 618 parses the table andthe parsed result in the PSI/PSIP information storage unit 619 asdatabase. In performing the parsing process, the data decoder 618 readsall remaining section data, which have not been processed with sectionfiltering, and actual section data. Thereafter, the data decoder 618stores the read data to the PSI/PSIP information storage unit 619.Herein, the table_id field, the section_number field, and thelast_section_number field included in the table may be used to indicatewhether the corresponding table is configured of a single section or aplurality of sections. For example, TS packets having the PID of the VCTare grouped to form a section, and sections having table identifiersallocated to the VCT are grouped to form the VCT.

Additionally, the data decoder 618 either stores the demultiplexedmobile broadcast service data to the data storage unit 621 as database,or outputs the demultiplexed mobile broadcast service data to thedisplay unit 110 and/or speaker through the application controller 620and control unit 100. By parsing system information tables, such as PMTand VCT, information on the virtual channel through which the mobilebroadcast service data are transmitted may be obtained. Also,information as to whether PES-type mobile broadcast service data arebeing transmitted through the corresponding virtual channel orinformation as to whether section-type mobile broadcast service data arebeing transmitted through the corresponding virtual channel may also beobtained. By parsing the system information tables, the type of themobile broadcast service data being transmitted may also be known. Morespecifically, the data decoder 618 may extract information on virtualchannels by referring to element stream types (ES types) within systeminformation tables (i.e., VCT and/or PAT/PMT) and PIDs. Also, when theextracted channel information indicate that PES-type mobile broadcastservice data exist in a virtual channel, A/V PID of the correspondingvirtual channel (VCH) within a channel map is set up, therebycontrolling an A/V demultiplexing process of the demultiplexer 616.

Meanwhile, when the extracted channel information indicate thatsection-type mobile broadcast service data exist in a virtual channel,the demultiplexer 616 demultiplexes the mobile broadcast service datatransmitted through the virtual channel, thereby either storing thedemultiplexed data in the data storage unit 621 or outputting thedemultiplexed data to an output device, such as the display unit 110 andthe speaker.

For example, when it is assumed that the information data on a stolenvehicle and/or the information data on a crashed vehicle are transmittedin DSM-CC sections, the presence (or existence) of the information dataon a stolen vehicle and/or the information data on a crashed vehicle maybe known by parsing a stream_type field value within the PMT or thestream_type field value of the service location descriptor included inthe VCT. More specifically, when the stream_type field value is equal to‘0x95’, this indicates that the information data on a stolen vehicleand/or the information data on a crashed vehicle are transmitted to thecorresponding virtual channel.

By performing section filtering, the demultiplexer 616 may output onlyan application information table (AIT) to the data decoder 618. The AITincludes information of an application that is operated in thetelematics terminal for the data service. The AIT may includeapplication information, such as application name, application version,application priority, application ID, application status (i.e.,auto-start, user-specific settings, kill, etc.), application type (i.e.,Java or HTML), position (or location) of stream including applicationclass and data files, application platform directory, and location ofapplication icon. Therefore, by using such information, the applicationmay store information required for its operation in the flash memory622.

The application that is operated by the application controller 620 maybe received along with the broadcast data and, then, updated. A databroadcasting application manager, which is executed by the applicationcontroller 620 in order to operate the corresponding application, may beprovided with a platform, which can execute an application program.Herein, for example, the platform may correspond to a Java virtualmachine for executing a Java program.

Furthermore, the data decoder 618 controls the demultiplexing of thesystem information table, which corresponds to the information tableassociated with the channel and events. Thereafter, an A/V PID list maybe transmitted to the channel manager. The channel manager may refer tothe channel map in order to transmit a request for receivingsystem-related information data to the data decoder 618, therebyreceiving the corresponding result. In addition, the channel manager mayalso control the channel tuning of the tuner corresponding to the signalreceiver 611.

The channel manager may refer to the channel map in order to transmit arequest for receiving system-related information data to the datadecoder 618, thereby receiving the corresponding result. In addition,the channel manager may also control the channel tuning of the tunercorresponding to the signal receiving unit 611.

The channel manager controls the signal receiving unit 611 and the datadecoder 618, so as to manage the channel map so that it can respond tothe channel request made by the user.

More specifically, channel manager sends a request to the data decoder618 so that the tables are parsed. Herein, the tables are associatedwith the channels that are to be tuned. The results of the parsed tablesare reported to the channel manager by the data decoder 618. Thereafter,based on the parsed results, the channel manager updates the channel mapand sets up a PID in the demultiplexer 616 for demultiplexing the tablesassociated with the mobile broadcast service data from the mobilebroadcast service data packet.

Furthermore, the channel manager may directly control the demultiplexer616, so as to directly set up the A/V PID, thereby controlling the A/Vdecoder 617.

The A/V decoder 617 may decode each of the audio data and the video datafrom the demultiplexed mobile broadcast service data and, then, outputthe decoded data.

The mobile broadcast service data demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 616may be decoded the A/V decoder 617 even when the mobile broadcastservice data correspond to A/V data of two channels. For example, theaudio decoder may perform decoding by applying an audio coding (AC)-3decoding algorithm, and the video decoder may perform decoding byapplying an MPEG-2 decoding algorithm.

When it is assumed that the information data on a stolen vehicle or theinformation data on a crashed vehicle are received as PES-type data.Then, the mobile broadcast service data packet including the informationdata on a stolen vehicle or the information data on a crashed vehiclepass through the mobile broadcast service data are outputted from thedemultiplexer 616 and inputted to the A/V decoder 617, so as to bedecoded. Then, based upon the control of the control unit 100, theinformation on a stolen vehicle and/or the information on a crashedvehicle is provided to the user through the display unit 110 and/or thespeaker.

Alternatively, when it is assumed that the information data on a stolenvehicle or the information data on a crashed vehicle are received assection-type data. Then, the mobile broadcast service data packetincluding the information data on a stolen vehicle or the informationdata on a crashed vehicle pass through the mobile broadcast service dataare outputted from the demultiplexer 616 and inputted to the datadecoder 618, so as to be decoded. Then, based upon the control of thecontrol unit 100, the information on a stolen vehicle and/or theinformation on a crashed vehicle is provided to the user through thedisplay unit 110 and/or the speaker.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive mobilebroadcast services according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 11, the broadcasting module furtherincludes a storage unit 623 and a memory 624 so as to perform instantrecording, reserved (or pre-programmed) recording, and time shift on themobile broadcast service data. Apart from the storage unit 623 and thememory 624, the structures and operations of the remaining elements ofthe telematics terminal are identical to the corresponding elements ofthe telematics terminal shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Therefore, thedescription of FIG. 11 will mainly be focused on the storage unit 623and the memory 624.

Either a hard disk drive (HDD) or a detachable external memory unit maybe used as the storage unit 623. More specifically, the mobile broadcastservice data demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 616 may be outputted tothe A/V decoder 617 or the data decoder 618. Alternatively, based uponthe control of the memory controller 624, the demultiplexed mobilebroadcast service data may also be written (or recorded) in the storageunit 613. When the user selects one of instant recording, reserved (orpre-programmed) recording, and time shift, the memory controller 624records the corresponding mobile broadcast service data demultiplexed bythe demultiplexer 616 in the storage unit 613. Additionally, when theuser selects the playback of the mobile broadcast service data stored inthe storage unit 623, the mobile broadcast service data stored in thestorage unit 623 is read and outputted based upon the control of thememory controller 624. Subsequently, after being decoded by the A/Vdecoder 617 or the data decoder 618, the decoded mobile broadcastservice data may be provided to the user.

The storage controller 624 may control the fast-forward, rewind, slowmotion, and instant replay functions of the data that are stored in thestorage unit 623. Herein, the instant replay function corresponds torepeatedly viewing scenes that the viewer (or user) wishes to view onceagain. The instant replay function may be performed on stored data andalso on data that are currently being received in real time byassociating the instant replay function with the time shift function. Inorder to prevent illegal duplication (or copies) of the input data beingstored in the storage unit 623, the storage controller 624 scrambles theinput data and stores the scrambled data in the storage unit 623. Also,based upon the playback command of the user, the memory controller 624reads and outputs the data scrambled and stored in the storage unit 623,so as to descramble the read data, thereby outputting the descrambleddata to the demultiplexer 616. According to another embodiment of thepresent invention, the above-described functions of the memorycontroller 624 and the storage unit 623, such as the instant recording,pre-programmed recording, time shift, playback, and instant replay, maybe performed by the write/read media driver 104 instead of the storageunit 623. Also, according to the present invention, the information on astolen vehicle or information on a crashed vehicle may be outputted tothe display unit or speaker and, at the same time, stored in the datastorage unit 621 or storage unit 623, based upon the user's request.Then, the stored information may be outputted whenever requested by theuser.

FIG. 12 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive mobilebroadcast services according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 12, the broadcasting module furtherincludes a descrambler 625 between the demultiplexer 616 and the A/Vdecoder 617, which is used to descramble the mobile broadcast servicedata that are scrambled and outputted from the transmitting system.Apart from the descrambler 625, the structures and operations of theremaining elements of the telematics terminal are identical to thecorresponding elements of the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 8 toFIG. 11. Therefore, the description of FIG. 12 will mainly be focused onthe descrambler 625.

Referring to FIG. 12, the descrambler 625 is provided between thedemultiplexer 616 and the A/V decoder 617. However, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention, the descrambler 625 may also beprovided between the demultiplexer 616 and the data decoder 618. Also,an authenticator (not shown) may further be provided in eachdescrambler. Alternatively, a separate authenticator (not shown) may beprovided so as to control the scrambling of the two descramblers. Theauthentication process may also be performed by the control unit 100.When the mobile broadcast service data demultiplexed by thedemultiplexer 616 are scrambled, the descrambler 625 descrambles thecorresponding data and outputs the descrambled data to the A/V decoder617. At this point, the descrambler 625 receives the authenticationresult and/or data required for the descrambling process, which are thenused to descramble the corresponding data.

More specifically, in order to provide service to prevent thetransmitted mobile broadcast service data from being illegallyduplicated (or copied) or viewed, or in order to provide chargedbroadcast services, the broadcasting station may scramble the mobilebroadcast service data and transmit the scrambled data. Accordingly,since the descrambler 625 is required to descramble the scrambled mobilebroadcast service data, an authentication process may be performed by anauthentication means prior to the descrambling process. Herein, thedescrambler 625 may also be provided as a detachable unit of thetelematics terminals in the form of a slot or a memory stick.

In order to perform the descrambling process, the descrambler 625 mayperform the authentication process. Herein, the authentication processdetermines whether the telematics terminal is a legitimate host entitledto receive the charged mobile broadcast service data (i.e., chargedbroadcast programs (or contents)). For example, the authenticationprocess may be carried out by comparing an internet protocol (IP)address of an IP datagram, which is included in the broadcast program(or contents) being received, to a unique address of the correspondingtelematics terminal. Herein, the unique address of the telematicsterminal may correspond to a media access control (MAC) address.

According to another embodiment of the authentication process,identification (ID) information pre-standardized by the transmittingsystem and receiving system may be defined. Then, the transmittingsystem may transmit ID information of the telematics terminal that hasrequested the charged broadcast service. Accordingly, the telematicsterminal may determine the authenticity between its own identificationnumber and the ID information received from the transmitting system,thereby performing the authentication process. The transmitting systemgenerates a database so as to store the unique ID information of thetelematics terminal that has requested the charged broadcast service.Thereafter, when scrambling the charged mobile broadcast service data,the transmitting system include an entitlement management message (EMM)in the ID information and transmits the processed ID information.Alternatively, when the corresponding mobile broadcast service data arescrambled, a message (e.g., entitlement control message (ECM) or EMM),such as a conditional access system (CAS) information, mode information,message position information, and so on, which are applied in thescrambling process, may be transmitted via a corresponding data headeror another packet.

More specifically, the ECM may include a control word (CW) that is usedin the scrambling process. At this point, the control word may beencoded (or encrypted) with an authentication key. The EMM may includean authentication key and entitlement information of the correspondingdata header. The authentication information may be encoded with a uniquedistribution key of the telematics terminal. When the mobile broadcastservice data are scrambled by using the control word (CW), and when theinformation required for authentication and the information fordescrambling are transmitted from the transmitting system, thetransmitting system may encode the control word (CW) with anauthentication key, which is then included in an entitlement controlmessage (ECM) and transmitted.

Furthermore, the transmitting system includes the authentication keyused for encoding the control word (CW) and a reception entitlement ofthe telematics terminal (e.g., a standardized serial number of atelematics terminal that is entitled to receive data) in an entitlementmanagement message (EMM), which is then transmitted. Therefore, thetelematics terminal may extract its unique ID information and mayextract the ID information included in the EMM of the mobile broadcastservice data being received, so as to determine the authenticity betweenthe extracted ID information, thereby carrying out the authenticationprocess. If the authentication result shows that the ID information areidentical, the corresponding telematics terminals may be determined as alegitimate receiver entitled to receive data.

According to yet another embodiment of the authentication process, thetelematics terminal may be provided with an authenticator on adetachable external (or outer) module. At this point, the telematicsterminal and the outer module are interfaced via a common interface(CI). More specifically, the outer module may receiver scrambled datafrom the telematics terminal via the common interface (CI), therebydescrambling the received data. Alternatively, the telematics terminalmay also selectively transmit only the information required for thedescrambling process to the corresponding telematics terminal.Furthermore, the common interface (CI) may be configured of one physicallayer and at least one protocol layer. Herein, in consideration of afuture expansion, the protocol layer may include at least one layer eachproviding an independent function.

The outer module may correspond to a memory or card having nodescrambling function yet having key information and authenticationinformation, which were used in the scrambling process, stored therein.Alternatively, the outer module may also correspond to a card includinga descrambling function. More specifically, the module may include thedescrambling function in the form of middleware or software. At thispoint, the telematics terminal and the outer module should both beauthenticated in order to be able to provide the user with the chargedmobile broadcast service data, which are supplied by the transmittingsystem. Therefore, the transmitting system may provide the chargedmobile broadcast service data only to the authenticated telematicsterminal and module pair. Thus, the telematics terminal and outer modulemay be mutually authenticated (or processed with two-way authentication)via the common interface (CI). The outer module may also communicatewith the control unit 100 of the telematics terminal, therebyauthenticating the corresponding telematics terminal.

The telematics terminal may authenticate the outer module via the commoninterface. And, the module may extract the unique ID of the telematicsterminal and its own unique ID during the mutual authentication (ortwo-way authentication) process, which are then transmitted to thetransmitting system. Thereafter, the transmitting system uses thereceived ID information (or value) as information for determiningwhether to start the requested service or as charged fee information.When required, the control unit 100 may transmit the charged feeinformation to a transmitting system located in a remote site via thetelecommunication module 102. Furthermore, the telematics terminal mayalso receive authentication-associated data from a mobiletelecommunications service provider to which the user is subscribed,instead of receiving the authentication-associated data from thetransmitting system that provides the mobile broadcast service data. Inthis case, the authentication-associated data may be scrambled by thetransmitting system that provides the mobile broadcast service data andtransmitted by passing through the domestic carrier. Otherwise, theauthentication-associated data may be scrambled by the domestic carrierand then transmitted.

According to yet another embodiment of the authentication process, theauthentication process may be performed using software without having todepend on hardware. More specifically, when a memory card havingsoftware pre-stored therein by downloading CAS software is inserted, thetelematics terminal receives the CAS software from the inserted memorycard. Thereafter, the CAS software is loaded so as to perform theauthentication process. Herein, a flash memory or a compact hard diskmay be used as the memory card. The memory card may be used in at leastone telematics terminal depending upon the contents, authentication,scrambling, fee-charging of the CAS software stored therein. However,the CAS software includes at least information required for theauthentication process and information required for the descramblingprocess.

The CAS software read from the memory card is stored in a storage unit(e.g., flash memory 622) within the telematics terminal. Then, thestored CAS software may be operated on the middleware in the form of anapplication. In this example, a Java middleware will be given as themiddleware. Herein, the outer interface unit 105 may include a commoninterface (CI) in order to be connected with the flash memory 622. Inthis case, an authentication process between the transmitting system andtelematics terminal or between the telematics terminal and memory cardis performed. The memory card entitled to receive data may includeinformation on an ordinary (or normal) authenticatable telematicsterminal. For example, information on the telematics terminal includesunique information, such as a standardized serial number, on thecorresponding telematics terminal. Therefore, the authentication processbetween the memory card and telematics terminal may be performed bycomparing the unique information, such as the standardized serialnumber, included in the memory card with the unique information of thecorresponding telematics terminal.

Herein, the authentication process between the telematics terminal andmemory card may be performed while the CAS software performs a Javamiddleware-based execution (or operation). For example, the telematicsterminal determines whether the unique serial number of the telematicsterminal, which is included in the CAS software, identically matches theunique serial number of the telematics terminal, which has been read bythe control unit 100 of the telematics terminal. Then, when thecomparison result shows that the two unique serial numbers, thecorresponding memory card is determined to be a normal memory card,which can be used by the telematics terminal. At this point, the CASsoftware may also be equipped in the flash memory 622 prior to theshipping of the telematics terminal. Alternatively, the CAS software maybe stored in the flash memory 622 from the transmitting system, themodule or memory card. The descrambling function may be operated in theform of an application by the data broadcasting application.

The CAS software parses the EMM/ECM packet outputted from thedemultiplexer 616 in order to verify whether the correspondingtelematics terminal is entitled to receive data. Thus, the CAS softwaremay obtain information required for the descrambling process (i.e., aCW) and provide the information to the descrambler 625. The CAS softwareperforming Java middleware-based operation reads the unique number ofthe corresponding telematics terminal. Then, the CAS software comparesthe read unique number with the unique number of the telematics terminalthat is transmitted to the EMM, thereby verifying whether thecorresponding telematics terminal is entitled to receive data. Once theentitlement of the telematics terminal is verified, the correspondingmobile broadcast service information transmitted to the ECM and theentitlement of the corresponding mobile broadcast service are used toverify whether the telematics terminal is entitled to receive thecorresponding mobile broadcast service.

Once the entitlement of receiving the corresponding (or requested)mobile broadcast service is verified, the authentication key transmittedto the EMM is used to decipher the encoded (or encrypted) control word(CW), which is transmitted to the ECM. Thereafter, the decipheredcontrol word is outputted to the descrambler 625. The descrambler 625then uses the control word to descramble the mobile broadcast service.Meanwhile, the CAS software that is stored in the memory card may beexpanded depending upon a charged mobile broadcast service that is to beprovided by the broadcasting station. Also, the CAS software may alsoinclude other supplemental (or additional) information other thaninformation associated with authentication or descrambling. Thetelematics terminal may also download the CAS software from thetransmitting system, thereby upgrading the CAS software already storedin the memory card.

Similar to the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 11, the telematicsterminal of FIG. 12 may also further include a storage unit 623 and amemory controller 624. Also, the scrambled mobile broadcast service datathat are received may also either be directly stored in the storage unit623 without modification or be descrambled and then stored in thestorage unit 623. Alternatively, the mobile broadcast service data mayalso be stored in a write/read medium inserted in the write/read mediadriver 104 instead of the storage unit 623. If the mobile broadcastservice data stored in the write/read medium inserted in the write/readmedia driver 104 instead or in the storage unit 623 are scrambled, thecorresponding data may be descrambled after an authentication processwhen being played (or reproduced).

More specifically, also in FIG. 12, the mobile broadcast service data,which include information on a stolen vehicle or information on acrashed vehicle, demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 616 may be outputtedto the A/V decoder 617 or the data decoder 618. Alternatively, basedupon the control of the memory controller 624, the demultiplexed mobilebroadcast service data may also be written (or recorded) in the storageunit 613. When the user selects one of instant recording, reserved (orpre-programmed) recording, and time shift, the memory controller 624records the corresponding mobile broadcast service data demultiplexed bythe demultiplexer 616 in the storage unit 613. Additionally, when theuser selects the playback of the mobile broadcast service data stored inthe storage unit 623, the mobile broadcast service data stored in thestorage unit 623 is read and outputted based upon the control of thememory controller 624. Subsequently, after being decoded by the A/Vdecoder 617 or the data decoder 618, the decoded mobile broadcastservice data may be provided to the user.

The memory controller 624 may control the fast-forward, rewind, slowmotion, and instant replay functions of the data that are stored in thestorage unit 623. Herein, the instant replay function corresponds torepeatedly viewing scenes that the viewer (or user) wishes to view onceagain. The instant replay function may be performed on stored data andalso on data that are currently being received in real time byassociating the instant replay function with the time shift function.Also, when the memory controller 624 is provided with ascramble/descramble algorithm, the memory controller 624 may scramblethe scrambled and received mobile broadcast service data once again,thereby storing the re-scrambled mobile broadcast service data in thestorage unit 623. Alternatively, the memory controller 624 may scramblethe mobile broadcast service data, which have not been scrambled, andstore the scrambled mobile broadcast service data in the storage unit.Then, playing-back the data, the memory controller 624 may descramblethe stored mobile broadcast data and output the descrambled data to thedemultiplexer 616.

If the receiving system that can receive and process mobile broadcastservice data corresponds to a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone, aPDA, and a notebook computer, the broadcasting module 103 shown in anyone of FIG. 8 to FIG. 12 may be applied to the mobile terminal.Accordingly, the mobile terminal may receive the information on a stolenvehicle or the information on a crashed vehicle transmitted from thebroadcasting station. Thereafter, the received information may bedecoded and outputted in the form of at least one of a voice message,text, and image. The process of the mobile terminal receiving theinformation on a stolen vehicle or the information on a crashed vehicletransmitted from the broadcasting station in the form of mobilebroadcast service data, so as to be decoded and outputted in the form ofat least one of a voice message, text, and image, is similar to theprocess described in FIG. 8 to FIG. 12. Therefore, a detaileddescription of the same will be omitted for simplicity.

MPH Frame Structure

In the embodiment of the present invention, the mobile broadcast servicedata including traffic information are first multiplexed with mainbroadcast service data in MPH frame units and, then, modulated in a VSBmode and transmitted to the receiving system. At this point, one MPHframe consists of K1 number of sub-frames, wherein one sub-frameincludes K2 number of slots. Also, each slot may be configured of K3number of data packets. In the embodiment of the present invention, K1will be set to 5, K2 will be set to 16, and K3 will be set to 156 (i.e.,K1=5, K2=16, and K3=156). The values for K1, K2, and K3 presented inthis embodiment either correspond to values according to a preferredembodiment or are merely exemplary. Therefore, the above-mentionedvalues will not limit the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a structure of a MPH frame for transmitting andreceiving mobile broadcast service data according to the presentinvention. In the example shown in FIG. 13, one MPH frame consists of 5sub-frames, wherein each sub-frame includes 16 slots. In this case, theMPH frame according to the present invention includes 5 sub-frames and80 slots. Also, in a packet level, one slot is configured of 156 datapackets (i.e., transport stream packets), and in a symbol level, oneslot is configured of 156 data segments. Herein, the size of one slotcorresponds to one half (½) of a VSB field. More specifically, since one207-byte data packet has the same amount of data as a data segment, adata packet prior to being interleaved may also be used as a datasegment. At this point, two VSB fields are grouped to form a VSB frame.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary structure of a VSB frame, wherein oneVSB frame consists of 2 VSB fields (i.e., an odd field and an evenfield). Herein, each VSB field includes a field synchronization segmentand 312 data segments. The slot corresponds to a basic time period formultiplexing the mobile broadcast service data and the main broadcastservice data. Herein, one slot may either include the mobile broadcastservice data or be configured only of the main broadcast service data.If one MPH frame is transmitted during one slot, the first 118 datapackets within the slot correspond to a data group. And, the remaining38 data packets become the main broadcast service data packets. Inanother example, when no data group exists in a slot, the correspondingslot is configured of 156 main broadcast service data packets.Meanwhile, when the slots are assigned to a VSB frame, an off-set existsfor each assigned position.

FIG. 15 illustrates a mapping example of the positions to which thefirst 4 slots of a sub-frame are assigned with respect to a VSB frame ina space region. And, FIG. 16 illustrates a mapping example of thepositions to which the first 4 slots of a sub-frame are assigned withrespect to a VSB frame in a time region. Referring to FIG. 15 and FIG.16, a 38^(th) data packet (TS packet #37) of a 1^(st) slot (Slot #0) ismapped to the 1^(st) data packet of an odd VSB field. A 38^(th) datapacket (TS packet #37) of a 2^(nd) slot (Slot #1) is mapped to the157^(th) data packet of an odd VSB field. Also, a 38^(th) data packet(TS packet #37) of a 3^(rd) slot (Slot #2) is mapped to the 1^(st) datapacket of an even VSB field. And, a 38^(th) data packet (TS packet #37)of a 4^(th) slot (Slot #3) is mapped to the 157^(th) data packet of aneven VSB field. Similarly, the remaining 12 slots within thecorresponding sub-frame are mapped in the subsequent VSB frames usingthe same method.

Meanwhile, one data group may be divided into at least one or morehierarchical regions. And, depending upon the characteristics of eachhierarchical region, the type of mobile broadcast service data beinginserted in each region may vary. For example, the data group withineach region may be divided (or categorized) based upon the receivingperformance. In an example given in the present invention, a data groupis divided into regions A, B, C, and D in a data configuration prior todata deinterleaving.

FIG. 17 illustrates an alignment of data after being data interleavedand identified. FIG. 18 illustrates an enlarged portion of the datagroup shown in FIG. 17 for a better understanding of the presentinvention. FIG. 19 illustrates an alignment of data before being datainterleaved and identified. And, FIG. 20 illustrates an enlarged portionof the data group shown in FIG. 19 for a better understanding of thepresent invention. More specifically, a data structure identical to thatshown in FIG. 17 is transmitted to a receiving system. In other words,one data packet is data-interleaved so as to be scattered to a pluralityof data segments, thereby being transmitted to the receiving system.FIG. 17 illustrates an example of one data group being scattered to 170data segments. At this point, since one 207-byte packet has the sameamount of data as one data segment, the packet that is not yet processedwith data-interleaving may be used as the data segment.

FIG. 17 shows an example of dividing a data group prior to beingdata-interleaved into 10 MPH blocks (i.e., MPH block 1 (B1) to MPH block10 (B10)). In this example, each MPH block has the length of 16segments. Referring to FIG. 17, only the RS parity data are allocated toportions of the first 5 segments of the MPH block 1 (B1) and the last 5segments of the MPH block 10 (B10). The RS parity data are excluded inregions A to D of the data group. More specifically, when it is assumedthat one data group is divided into regions A, B, C, and D, each MPHblock may be included in any one of region A to region D depending uponthe characteristic of each MPH block within the data group.

Herein, the data group is divided into a plurality of regions to be usedfor different purposes. More specifically, a region of the mainbroadcast service data having no interference or a very low interferencelevel may be considered to have a more resistant (or stronger) receivingperformance as compared to regions having higher interference levels.Additionally, when using a system inserting and transmitting known datain the data group, wherein the known data are known based upon anagreement between the transmitting system and the receiving system, andwhen consecutively long known data are to be periodically inserted inthe mobile broadcast service data, the known data having a predeterminedlength may be periodically inserted in the region having no interferencefrom the main broadcast service data (i.e., a region wherein the mainbroadcast service data are not mixed). However, due to interference fromthe main broadcast service data, it is difficult to periodically insertknown data and also to insert consecutively long known data to a regionhaving interference from the main broadcast service data.

Referring to FIG. 17, MPH block 4 (B4) to MPH block 7 (B7) correspond toregions without interference of the main broadcast service data. MPHblock 4 (B4) to MPH block 7 (B7) within the data group shown in FIG. 17correspond to a region where no interference from the main broadcastservice data occurs. In this example, a long known data sequence isinserted at both the beginning and end of each MPH block. In thedescription of the present invention, the region including MPH block 4(B4) to MPH block 7 (B7) will be referred to as “region A(=B4+B5+B6+B7)”. As described above, when the data group includes regionA having a long known data sequence inserted at both the beginning andend of each MPH block, the receiving system is capable of performingequalization by using the channel information that can be obtained fromthe known data. Therefore, the strongest equalizing performance may beyielded (or obtained) from one of region A to region D.

In the example of the data group shown in FIG. 17, MPH block 3 (B3) andMPH block 8 (B8) correspond to a region having little interference fromthe main broadcast service data. Herein, a long known data sequence isinserted in only one side of each MPH block B3 and B8. Morespecifically, due to the interference from the main broadcast servicedata, a long known data sequence is inserted at the end of MPH block 3(B3), and another long known data sequence is inserted at the beginningof MPH block 8 (B8). In the present invention, the region including MPHblock 3 (B3) and MPH block 8 (B8) will be referred to as “regionB(=B3+B8)”. As described above, when the data group includes region Bhaving a long known data sequence inserted at only one side (beginningor end) of each MPH block, the receiving system is capable of performingequalization by using the channel information that can be obtained fromthe known data. Therefore, a stronger equalizing performance as comparedto region C/D may be yielded (or obtained).

Referring to FIG. 17, MPH block 2 (B2) and MPH block 9 (B9) correspondto a region having more interference from the main broadcast servicedata as compared to region B. A long known data sequence cannot beinserted in any side of MPH block 2 (B2) and MPH block 9 (B9). Herein,the region including MPH block 2 (B2) and MPH block 9 (B9) will bereferred to as “region C(=B2+B9)”. Finally, in the example shown in FIG.17, MPH block 1 (B1) and MPH block 10 (B10) correspond to a regionhaving more interference from the main broadcast service data ascompared to region C. Similarly, a long known data sequence cannot beinserted in any side of MPH block 1 (B1) and MPH block 10 (B10). Herein,the region including MPH block 1 (B1) and MPH block 10 (B10) will bereferred to as “region D (=B1+B10)”. Since region C/D is spaced furtherapart from the known data sequence, when the channel environmentundergoes frequent and abrupt changes, the receiving performance ofregion C/D may be deteriorated.

FIG. 19 illustrates a data structure prior to data interleaving. Morespecifically, FIG. 19 illustrates an example of 118 data packets beingallocated to a data group. FIG. 19 shows an example of a data groupconsisting of 118 data packets, wherein, based upon a reference packet(e.g., a 1^(st) packet (or data segment) or 157^(th) packet (or datasegment) after a field synchronization signal), when allocating datapackets to a VSB frame, 37 packets are included before the referencepacket and 81 packets (including the reference packet) are includedafterwards. In other words, with reference to FIG. 17, a fieldsynchronization signal is placed (or assigned) between MPH block 2 (B2)and MPH block 3 (B3). Accordingly, this indicates that the slot has anoff-set of 37 data packets with respect to the corresponding VSB field.The size of the data groups, number of hierarchical regions within thedata group, the size of each region, the number of MPH blocks includedin each region, the size of each MPH block, and so on described aboveare merely exemplary. Therefore, the present invention will not belimited to the examples described above.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary assignment order of data groups beingassigned to one of 5 sub-frames, wherein the 5 sub-frames configure anMPH frame. For example, the method of assigning data groups may beidentically applied to all MPH frames or differently applied to each MPHframe. Furthermore, the method of assigning data groups may beidentically applied to all sub-frames or differently applied to eachsub-frame. At this point, when it is assumed that the data groups areassigned using the same method in all sub-frames of the correspondingMPH frame, the total number of data groups being assigned to an MPHframe is equal to a multiple of ‘5’. According to the embodiment of thepresent invention, a plurality of consecutive data groups is assigned tobe spaced as far apart from one another as possible within the MPHframe. Thus, the system can be capable of responding promptly andeffectively to any burst error that may occur within a sub-frame.

For example, when it is assumed that 3 data groups are assigned to asub-frame, the data groups are assigned to a 1^(st) slot (Slot #0), a5^(th) slot (Slot #4), and a 9^(th) slot (Slot #8) in the sub-frame,respectively. FIG. 21 illustrates an example of assigning 16 data groupsin one sub-frame using the above-described pattern (or rule). In otherwords, each data group is serially assigned to 16 slots corresponding tothe following numbers: 0, 8, 4, 12, 1, 9, 5, 13, 2, 10, 6, 14, 3, 11, 7,and 15. Equation 1 below shows the above-described rule (or pattern) forassigning data groups in a sub-frame.

j=(4i+0)mod 16  Equation 1

-   -   0=0 if i<4,    -   0=2 else if i<8,

Herein,

-   -   0=1 else if i<12,    -   0=3 else.

Herein, j indicates the slot number within a sub-frame.

The value of j may range from 0 to 15 (i.e., 0≦j≦15). Also, variable iindicates the data group number. The value of i may range from 0 to 15(i.e., 0≦i≦15).

In the present invention, a collection of data groups included in a MPHframe will be referred to as a “parade”. Based upon the RS frame mode,the parade transmits data of at least one specific RS frame. The mobilebroadcast service data within one RS frame may be assigned either to allof regions A/B/C/D within the corresponding data group, or to at leastone of regions A/B/C/D. In the embodiment of the present invention, themobile broadcast service data within one RS frame may be assigned eitherto all of regions A/B/C/D, or to at least one of regions A/B and regionsC/D. If the mobile broadcast service data are assigned to the lattercase (i.e., one of regions A/B and regions C/D), the RS frame beingassigned to regions A/B and the RS frame being assigned to regions C/Dwithin the corresponding data group are different from one another.

In the description of the present invention, the RS frame being assignedto regions A/B within the corresponding data group will be referred toas a “primary RS frame”, and the RS frame being assigned to regions C/Dwithin the corresponding data group will be referred to as a “secondaryRS frame”, for simplicity. Also, the primary RS frame and the secondaryRS frame form (or configure) one parade. More specifically, when themobile broadcast service data within one RS frame are assigned either toall of regions A/B/C/D within the corresponding data group, one paradetransmits one RS frame. Conversely, when the mobile broadcast servicedata within one RS frame are assigned either to at least one of regionsA/B and regions C/D, one parade may transmit up to 2 RS frames. Morespecifically, the RS frame mode indicates whether a parade transmits oneRS frame, or whether the parade transmits two RS frames. Table 1 belowshows an example of the RS frame mode.

TABLE 1 RS frame mode (2 bits) Description 00 There is only one primaryRS frame for all group regions 01 There are two separate RS frames.Primary RS frame for group regions A and B Secondary RS frame for groupregions C and D 10 Reserved 11 Reserved

Table 1 illustrates an example of allocating 2 bits in order to indicatethe RS frame mode. For example, referring to Table 1, when the RS framemode value is equal to ‘00’, this indicates that one parade transmitsone RS frame. And, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, thisindicates that one parade transmits two RS frames, i.e., the primary RSframe and the secondary RS frame. More specifically, when the RS framemode value is equal to ‘01’, data of the primary RS frame for regionsA/B are assigned and transmitted to regions A/B of the correspondingdata group. Similarly, data of the secondary RS frame for regions C/Dare assigned and transmitted to regions C/D of the corresponding datagroup.

Additionally, one RS frame transmits one ensemble. Herein, the ensembleis a collection of services requiring the same quality of service (QOS)and being encoded with the same FEC codes. More specifically, when oneparade is configured of one RS frame, then one parade transmits oneensemble. Conversely, when one parade is configured of two RS frames,i.e., when one parade is configured of a primary RS frame and asecondary RS frame, then one parade transmits two ensembles (i.e., aprimary ensemble and a secondary ensemble). More specifically, theprimary ensemble is transmitted through a primary RS frame of a parade,and the secondary ensemble is transmitted through a secondary RS frameof a parade. The RS frame is a 2-dimensional data frame through which anensemble is RS-CRC encoded.

As described in the assignment of data groups, the parades are alsoassigned to be spaced as far apart from one another as possible withinthe sub-frame. Thus, the system can be capable of responding promptlyand effectively to any burst error that may occur within a sub-frame.Furthermore, the method of assigning parades may be identically appliedto all sub-frames or differently applied to each sub-frame. According tothe embodiment of the present invention, the parades may be assigneddifferently for each MPH frame and identically for all sub-frames withinan MPH frame. More specifically, the MPH frame structure may vary by MPHframe units. Thus, an ensemble rate may be adjusted on a more frequentand flexible basis.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of multiple data groups of a singleparade being assigned (or allocated) to an MPH frame. More specifically,FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a plurality of data groups included ina single parade, wherein the number of data groups included in asub-frame is equal to ‘3’, being allocated to an MPH frame. Referring toFIG. 22, 3 data groups are sequentially assigned to a sub-frame at acycle period of 4 slots. Accordingly, when this process is equallyperformed in the 5 sub-frames included in the corresponding MPH frame,15 data groups are assigned to a single MPH frame. Herein, the 15 datagroups correspond to data groups included in a parade. Therefore, sinceone sub-frame is configured of 4 VSB frame, and since 3 data groups areincluded in a sub-frame, the data group of the corresponding parade isnot assigned to one of the 4 VSB frames within a sub-frame.

For example, when it is assumed that one parade transmits one RS frame,and that a RS frame encoder located in a later block performsRS-encoding on the corresponding RS frame, thereby adding 24 bytes ofparity data to the corresponding RS frame and transmitting the processedRS frame, the parity data occupy approximately 11.37% (=24/(187+24)×100)of the total code word length. Meanwhile, when one sub-frame includes 3data groups, and when the data groups included in the parade areassigned, as shown in FIG. 22, a total of 15 data groups form an RSframe. Accordingly, even when an error occurs in an entire data groupdue to a burst noise within a channel, the percentile is merely 6.67%(=1/15×100). Therefore, the receiving system may correct all errors byperforming an erasure RS decoding process. More specifically, when theerasure RS decoding is performed, a number of channel errorscorresponding to the number of RS parity bytes may be corrected. Bydoing so, the receiving system may correct the error of at least onedata group within one parade. Thus, the minimum burst noise lengthcorrectable by a RS frame is over 1 VSB frame.

Meanwhile, when data groups of a parade are assigned as described above,either main broadcast service data may be assigned between each datagroup, or data groups corresponding to different parades may be assignedbetween each data group. More specifically, data groups corresponding tomultiple parades may be assigned to one MPH frame. Basically, the methodof assigning data groups corresponding to multiple parades is verysimilar to the method of assigning data groups corresponding to a singleparade. In other words, data groups included in other parades that areto be assigned to an MPH frame are also respectively assigned accordingto a cycle period of 4 slots. At this point, data groups of a differentparade may be sequentially assigned to the respective slots in acircular method. Herein, the data groups are assigned to slots startingfrom the ones to which data groups of the previous parade have not yetbeen assigned. For example, when it is assumed that data groupscorresponding to a parade are assigned as shown in FIG. 22, data groupscorresponding to the next parade may be assigned to a sub-frame startingeither from the 12^(th) slot of a sub-frame. However, this is merelyexemplary. In another example, the data groups of the next parade mayalso be sequentially assigned to a different slot within a sub-frame ata cycle period of 4 slots starting from the 3^(rd) slot.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of transmitting 3 parades (Parade #0,Parade #1, and Parade #2) to an MPH frame. More specifically, FIG. 23illustrates an example of transmitting parades included in one of 5sub-frames, wherein the 5 sub-frames configure one MPH frame. When the1^(st) parade (Parade #0) includes 3 data groups for each sub-frame, thepositions of each data groups within the sub-frames may be obtained bysubstituting values ‘0’ to ‘2’ for i in Equation 1. More specifically,the data groups of the 1^(st) parade (Parade #0) are sequentiallyassigned to the 1^(st), 5^(th), and 9^(th) slots (Slot #0, Slot #4, andSlot #8) within the sub-frame. Also, when the 2^(nd) parade includes 2data groups for each sub-frame, the positions of each data groups withinthe sub-frames may be obtained by substituting values ‘3’ and ‘4’ for inEquation 1. More specifically, the data groups of the 2^(nd) parade(Parade #1) are sequentially assigned to the 2^(nd) and 12^(th) slots(Slot #3 and Slot #11) within the sub-frame. Finally, when the 3^(rd)parade includes 2 data groups for each sub-frame, the positions of eachdata groups within the sub-frames may be obtained by substituting values‘5’ and ‘6’ for in Equation 1. More specifically, the data groups of the3^(rd) parade (Parade #2) are sequentially assigned to the 7^(th) and11^(th) slots (Slot #6 and Slot #10) within the sub-frame.

As described above, data groups of multiple parades may be assigned to asingle MPH frame, and, in each sub-frame, the data groups are seriallyallocated to a group space having 4 slots from left to right. Therefore,a number of groups of one parade per sub-frame (NOG) may correspond toany one integer from ‘1’ to ‘8’. Herein, since one MPH frame includes 5sub-frames, the total number of data groups within a parade that can beallocated to an MPH frame may correspond to any one multiple of ‘5’ranging from ‘5’ to ‘40’.

FIG. 24 illustrates an example of expanding the assignment process of 3parades, shown in FIG. 23, to 5 sub-frames within an MPH frame.

General Description of the Transmitting System

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram showing a general structure of adigital broadcast transmitting system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Herein, the digital broadcast transmitting includes a servicemultiplexer 1100 and a transmitter 1200. Herein, the service multiplexer1100 is located in the studio of each broadcast station, and thetransmitter 1200 is located in a site placed at a predetermined distancefrom the studio. The transmitter 1200 may be located in a plurality ofdifferent locations. Also, for example, the plurality of transmittersmay share the same frequency. And, in this case, the plurality oftransmitters receives the same signal. Accordingly, in the receivingsystem, a channel equalizer may compensate signal distortion, which iscaused by a reflected wave, so as to recover the original signal. Inanother example, the plurality of transmitters may have differentfrequencies with respect to the same channel.

The receiving system may become a telematics terminal, a mobile phone, aterminal for receiving mobile broadcast. PDA, and a notebook computer,and so on.

A variety of methods may be used for data communication each of thetransmitters, which are located in remote positions, and the servicemultiplexer. For example, an interface standard such as a synchronousserial interface for transport of MPEG-2 data (SMPTE-310M). In theSMPTE-310M interface standard, a constant data rate is decided as anoutput data rate of the service multiplexer. For example, in case of the8VSB mode, the output data rate is 19.39 Mbps, and, in case of the 16VSBmode, the output data rate is 38.78 Mbps. Furthermore, in theconventional 8VSB mode transmitting system, a transport stream (TS)packet having a data rate of approximately 19.39 Mbps may be transmittedthrough a single physical channel. Also, in the transmitting systemaccording to the present invention provided with backward compatibilitywith the conventional transmitting system, additional encoding isperformed on the mobile broadcast service data. Thereafter, theadditionally encoded mobile broadcast service data are multiplexed withthe main broadcast service data to a TS packet form, which is thentransmitted. At this point, the data rate of the multiplexed TS packetis approximately 19.39 Mbps.

At this point, the service multiplexer 1100 receives at least one typeof mobile broadcast service data and program specificinformation/program and system information protocol (PSI/PSIP) tabledata for each mobile broadcast service so as to encapsulate the receiveddata to each TS packet. Also, the service multiplexer 1100 receives atleast one type of main broadcast service data and PSI/PSIP table datafor each main broadcast service and encapsulates the received data to atransport stream (TS) packet. Subsequently, the TS packets aremultiplexed according to a predetermined multiplexing rule and outputsthe multiplexed packets to the transmitter 1200.

Service Multiplexer

FIG. 26 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of the servicemultiplexer. The service multiplexer includes a controller 1110 forcontrolling the overall operations of the service multiplexer, aPSI/PSIP generator for the main broadcast service, a PSI/PSIP generatorfor the mobile broadcast service, a null packet generator 1140, a mobilebroadcast service multiplexer 1150, and a transport multiplexer 1160.

The transport multiplexer 1160 may include a main broadcast servicemultiplexer 1161 and a transport stream (TS) packet multiplexer 1162.

Referring to FIG. 26, at least one type of compression encoded mainbroadcast service data and the PSI/PSIP table data generated from thePSI/PSIP generator 1120 for the main broadcast service are inputted tothe main broadcast service multiplexer 1161 of the transport multiplexer1160. The main broadcast service multiplexer 1161 encapsulates each ofthe inputted main broadcast service data and PSI/PSIP table data toMPEG-2 TS packet forms. Then, the MPEG-2 TS packets are multiplexed andoutputted to the TS packet multiplexer 1162. Herein, the data packetbeing outputted from the main broadcast service multiplexer 1161 will bereferred to as a main broadcast service data packet for simplicity.

Thereafter, at least one type of the compression encoded mobilebroadcast service data and the PSI/PSIP table data generated from thePSI/PSIP generator 1130 for the mobile broadcast service are inputted tothe mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150.

The mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 encapsulates each of theinputted mobile broadcast service data and PSI/PSIP table data to MPEG-2TS packet forms. Then, the MPEG-2 TS packets are multiplexed andoutputted to the TS packet multiplexer 1162. Herein, the data packetbeing outputted from the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 willbe referred to as a mobile broadcast service data packet for simplicity.

At this point, the transmitter 1200 requires identification informationin order to identify and process the main broadcast service data packetand the mobile broadcast service data packet. Herein, the identificationinformation may use values pre-decided in accordance with an agreementbetween the transmitting system and the receiving system, or may beconfigured of a separate set of data, or may modify predeterminedlocation value with in the corresponding data packet.

As an example of the present invention, a different packet identifier(PID) may be assigned to identify each of the main broadcast servicedata packet and the mobile broadcast service data packet.

In another example, by modifying a synchronization data byte within aheader of the mobile broadcast service data, the service data packet maybe identified by using the synchronization data byte value of thecorresponding service data packet. For example, the synchronization byteof the main broadcast service data packet directly outputs the valuedecided by the ISO/IEC13818-1 standard (i.e., 0x47) without anymodification. The synchronization byte of the mobile broadcast servicedata packet modifies and outputs the value, thereby identifying the mainbroadcast service data packet and the mobile broadcast service datapacket. Conversely, the synchronization byte of the main broadcastservice data packet is modified and outputted, whereas thesynchronization byte of the mobile broadcast service data packet isdirectly outputted without being modified, thereby enabling the mainbroadcast service data packet and the mobile broadcast service datapacket to be identified.

A plurality of methods may be applied in the method of modifying thesynchronization byte. For example, each bit of the synchronization bytemay be inversed, or only a portion of the synchronization byte may beinversed.

As described above, any type of identification information may be usedto identify the main broadcast service data packet and the mobilebroadcast service data packet. Therefore, the scope of the presentinvention is not limited only to the example set forth in thedescription of the present invention.

Meanwhile, a transport multiplexer used in the conventional digitalbroadcasting system may be used as the transport multiplexer 1160according to the present invention. More specifically, in order tomultiplex the mobile broadcast service data and the main broadcastservice data and to transmit the multiplexed data, the data rate of themain broadcast service is limited to a data rate of (19.39-K) Mbps.Then, K Mbps, which corresponds to the remaining data rate, is assignedas the data rate of the mobile broadcast service. Thus, the transportmultiplexer which is already being used may be used as it is without anymodification.

Herein, the transport multiplexer 1160 multiplexes the main broadcastservice data packet being outputted from the main broadcast servicemultiplexer 1161 and the mobile broadcast service data packet beingoutputted from the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150.Thereafter, the transport multiplexer 1160 transmits the multiplexeddata packets to the transmitter 1200.

However, in some cases, the output data rate of the mobile broadcastservice multiplexer 1150 may not be equal to K Mbps. In this case, themobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 multiplexes and outputs nulldata packets generated from the null packet generator 1140 so that theoutput data rate can reach K Mbps. More specifically, in order to matchthe output data rate of the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 toa constant data rate, the null packet generator 1140 generates null datapackets, which are then outputted to the mobile broadcast servicemultiplexer 1150.

For example, when the service multiplexer 1100 assigns K Mbps of the19.39 Mbps to the mobile broadcast service data, and when the remaining(19.39-K) Mbps is, therefore, assigned to the main broadcast servicedata, the data rate of the mobile broadcast service data that aremultiplexed by the service multiplexer 1100 actually becomes lower thanK Mbps. This is because, in case of the mobile broadcast service data,the pre-processor of the transmitting system performs additionalencoding, thereby increasing the amount of data. Eventually, the datarate of the mobile broadcast service data, which may be transmitted fromthe service multiplexer 1100, becomes smaller than K Mbps.

For example, since the pre-processor of the transmitter performs anencoding process on the mobile broadcast service data at a coding rateof at least ½, the amount of the data outputted from the pre-processoris increased to more than twice the amount of the data initiallyinputted to the pre-processor. Therefore, the sum of the data rate ofthe main broadcast service data and the data rate of the mobilebroadcast service data, both being multiplexed by the servicemultiplexer 1100, becomes either equal to or smaller than 19.39 Mbps.

Therefore, in order to match the data rate of the data that are finallyoutputted from the service multiplexer 1100 to a constant data rate(e.g., 19.39 Mbps), an amount of null data packets corresponding to theamount of lacking data rate is generated from the null packet generator1140 and outputted to the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150.

Accordingly, the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 encapsulateseach of the mobile broadcast service data and the PSI/PSIP table datathat are being inputted to a MPEG-2 TS packet form. Then, theabove-described TS packets are multiplexed with the null data packetsand, then, outputted to the TS packet multiplexer 1162.

Thereafter, the TS packet multiplexer 1162 multiplexes the mainbroadcast service data packet being outputted from the main broadcastservice multiplexer 1161 and the mobile broadcast service data packetbeing outputted from the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 andtransmits the multiplexed data packets to the transmitter 1200 at a datarate of 19.39 Mbps.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mobilebroadcast service multiplexer 1150 receives the null data packets.However, this is merely exemplary and does not limit the scope of thepresent invention. In other words, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention, the TS packet multiplexer 1162 may receive thenull data packets, so as to match the data rate of the finally outputteddata to a constant data rate. Herein, the output path and multiplexingrule of the null data packet is controlled by the controller 1110. Thecontroller 1110 controls the multiplexing processed performed by themobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150, the main broadcast servicemultiplexer 1161 of the transport multiplexer 1160, and the TS packetmultiplexer 1162, and also controls the null data packet generation ofthe null packet generator 1140. At this point, the transmitter 1200discards the null data packets transmitted from the service multiplexer1100 instead of transmitting the null data packets.

Further, in order to allow the transmitter 1200 to discard the null datapackets transmitted from the service multiplexer 1100 instead oftransmitting them, identification information for identifying the nulldata packet is required. Herein, the identification information may usevalues pre-decided in accordance with an agreement between thetransmitting system and the receiving system. For example, the value ofthe synchronization byte within the header of the null data packet maybe modified so as to be used as the identification information.Alternatively, a transport_error_indicator flag may also be used as theidentification information.

In the description of the present invention, an example of using thetransport_error_indicator flag as the identification information will begiven to describe an embodiment of the present invention. In this case,the transport_error_indicator flag of the null data packet is set to‘1’, and the transport_error_indicator flag of the remaining datapackets are reset to ‘0’, so as to identify the null data packet. Morespecifically, when the null packet generator 1140 generates the nulldata packets, if the transport_error_indicator flag from the headerfield of the null data packet is set to ‘1’ and then transmitted, thenull data packet may be identified and, therefore, be discarded. In thepresent invention, any type of identification information foridentifying the null data packets may be used. Therefore, the scope ofthe present invention is not limited only to the examples set forth inthe description of the present invention.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a transmissionparameter may be included in at least a portion of the null data packet,or at least one table or an operations and maintenance (OM) packet (orOMP) of the PSI/PSIP table for the mobile broadcast service. In thiscase, the transmitter 1200 extracts the transmission parameter andoutputs the extracted transmission parameter to the corresponding blockand also transmits the extracted parameter to the receiving system ifrequired. More specifically, a packet referred to as an OMP is definedfor the purpose of operating and managing the transmitting system. Forexample, the OMP is configured in accordance with the MPEG-2 TS packetformat, and the corresponding PID is given the value of 0x1FFA. The OMPis configured of a 4-byte header and a 184-byte payload. Herein, amongthe 184 bytes, the first byte corresponds to an OM_type field, whichindicates the type of the OM packet.

In the present invention, the transmission parameter may be transmittedin the form of an OMP. And, in this case, among the values of thereserved fields within the OM_type field, a pre-arranged value is used,thereby indicating that the transmission parameter is being transmittedto the transmitter 1200 in the form of an OMP. More specifically, thetransmitter 1200 may find (or identify) the OMP by referring to the PID.Also, by parsing the OM_type field within the OMP, the transmitter 1200can verify whether a transmission parameter is included after theOM_type field of the corresponding packet. The transmission parametercorresponds to supplemental data required for processing mobilebroadcast service data from the transmitting system and the receivingsystem.

The transmission parameter corresponds to supplemental data required forprocessing mobile broadcast service data from the transmitting systemand the receiving system. Herein, the transmission parameter may includedata group information, region information within the data group, blockinformation, RS frame information, super frame information, MPH frameinformation, parade information, ensemble information, informationassociated with serial concatenated convolution code (SCCC), and RS codeinformation. The significance of some information within thetransmission parameters has already been described in detail.Descriptions of other information that have not yet been described willbe in detail in a later process.

The transmission parameter may also include information on how signalsof a symbol domain are encoded in order to transmit the mobile broadcastservice data, and multiplexing information on how the main broadcastservice data and the mobile broadcast service data or various types ofmobile broadcast service data are multiplexed.

The information included in the transmission parameter are merelyexemplary to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. And,the adding and deleting of the information included in the transmissionparameter may be easily modified and changed by anyone skilled in theart. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the examplesproposed in the description set forth herein.

Furthermore, the transmission parameters may be provided from theservice multiplexer 1100 to the transmitter 1200. Alternatively, thetransmission parameters may also be set up by an internal controller(not shown) within the transmitter 1200 or received from an externalsource.

Transmitter

FIG. 27 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of thetransmitter 1200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.Herein, the transmitter 1200 includes a controller 1205, a demultiplexer1210, a packet jitter mitigator 1220, a pre-processor 1230, a packetmultiplexer 1240, a post-processor 1250, a synchronization (sync)multiplexer 1260, and a transmission unit 1270. Herein, when a datapacket is received from the service multiplexer 1100, the demultiplexer1210 should identify whether the received data packet corresponds to amain broadcast service data packet, a mobile broadcast service datapacket, or a null data packet. For example, the demultiplexer 1210 usesthe PID within the received data packet so as to identify the mainbroadcast service data packet and the mobile broadcast service datapacket. Then, the demultiplexer 1210 uses a transport_error_indicatorfield to identify the null data packet. The main broadcast service datapacket identified by the demultiplexer 1210 is outputted to the packetjitter mitigator 1220, the mobile broadcast service data packet isoutputted to the pre-processor 1230, and the null data packet isdiscarded. If a transmission parameter is included in the null datapacket, then the transmission parameter is first extracted and outputtedto the corresponding block. Thereafter, the null data packet isdiscarded.

The pre-processor 1230 performs an additional encoding process of themobile broadcast service data included in the service data packet, whichis demultiplexed and outputted from the demultiplexer 1210. Thepre-processor 1230 also performs a process of configuring a data groupso that the data group may be positioned at a specific place inaccordance with the purpose of the data, which are to be transmitted ona transmission frame. This is to enable the mobile broadcast servicedata to respond swiftly and strongly against noise and channel changes.The pre-processor 1230 may also refer to the transmission parameter whenperforming the additional encoding process. Also, the pre-processor 1230groups a plurality of mobile broadcast service data packets to configurea data group. Thereafter, known data, mobile broadcast service data, RSparity data, and MPEG header are allocated to pre-determined regionswithin the data group.

Pre-Processor within Transmitter

FIG. 28 illustrates a block diagram showing the structure of apre-processor 1230 according to the present invention. Herein, thepre-processor 1230 includes an MPH frame encoder 1301, a block processor1302, a group formatter 1303, a signaling encoder 1304, and a packetencoder 1304. The MPH frame encoder 1301, which is included in thepre-processor 1230 having the above-described structure, data-randomizesthe mobile broadcast service data that are inputted to the demultiplexer1210, thereby creating a RS frame. Then, the MPH frame encoder 1301performs an encoding process for error correction in RS frame units. TheMPH frame encoder 1301 may include at least one RS frame encoder. Morespecifically, RS frame encoders may be provided in parallel, wherein thenumber of RS frame encoders is equal to the number of parades within theMPH frame. As described above, the MPH frame is a basic time cycleperiod for transmitting at least one parade. Also, each parade consistsof one or two RS frames.

FIG. 29 illustrates a conceptual block diagram of the MPH frame encoder1301 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The MPH frameencoder 1301 includes an input demultiplexer (DEMUX) 1309, M number ofRS frame encoders 1310 to 131M-1, and an output multiplexer (MUX) 1320.Herein, M represent the number of parades included in one MPH frame. Theinput demultiplexer (DEMUX) 1309 splits input ensembles. Then, the splitinput ensembles decide the RS frame to which the ensembles are to beinputted. Thereafter, the inputted ensembles are outputted to therespective RS frame. At this point, an ensemble may be mapped to each RSframe encoder or parade. For example, when one parade configures one RSframe, the ensembles, RS frames, and parades may each be mapped to be ina one-to-one (1:1) correspondence with one another. More specifically,the data in one ensemble configure a RS frame. And, a RS frame isdivided into a plurality of data groups. Based upon the RS frame mode ofTable 1, the data within one RS frame may be assigned either to all ofregions A/B/C/D within multiple data groups, or to at least one ofregions A/B and regions C/D within multiple data groups.

When the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, i.e., when the data ofthe primary RS frame are assigned to regions A/B of the correspondingdata group and data of the secondary RS frame are assigned to regionsC/D of the corresponding data group, each RS frame encoder creates aprimary RS frame and a secondary RS frame for each parade. Conversely,when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’, when the data of theprimary RS frame are assigned to all of regions A/B/C/D, each RS frameencoder creates a RS frame (i.e., a primary RS frame) for each parade.Also, each RS frame encoder divides each RS frame into several portions.Each portion of the RS frame is equivalent to a data amount that can betransmitted by a data group.

The output multiplexer (MUX) 1320 multiplexes portions within M numberof RS frame encoders 1310 to 131M-1 are multiplexed and then outputtedto the block processor 1302. For example, if one parade transmits two RSframes, portions of primary RS frames within M number of RS frameencoders 1310 to 131M-1 are multiplexed and outputted. Thereafter,portions of secondary RS frames within M number of RS frame encoders1310 to 131M-1 are multiplexed and transmitted. The input demultiplexer(DEMUX) 1309 and the output multiplexer (MUX) 1320 operate based uponthe control of the control unit 1205. The control unit 1205 may providenecessary (or required) FEC modes to each RS frame encoder. The FEC modeincludes the RS code mode, which will be described in detail in a laterprocess.

FIG. 30 illustrates a detailed block diagram of an RS frame encoderamong a plurality of RS frame encoders within an MPH frame encoder. OneRS frame encoder may include a primary encoder 1410 and a secondaryencoder 1420. Herein, the secondary encoder 1420 may or may not operatebased upon the RS frame mode. For example, when the RS frame mode valueis equal to ‘00’, as shown in Table 1, the secondary encoder 1420 doesnot operate. The primary encoder 1410 may include a data randomizer1411, a Reed-Solomon-cyclic redundancy check (RS-CRC) encoder 1412, anda RS frame divider 1413. And, the secondary encoder 1420 may alsoinclude a data randomizer 1421, a RS-CRC encoder 1422, and a RS framedivider 1423.

More specifically, the data randomizer 1411 of the primary encoder 1410receives mobile broadcast service data of a primary ensemble outputtedfrom the output demultiplexer (DEMUX) 1309. Then, after randomizing thereceived mobile broadcast service data, the data randomizer 1411 outputsthe randomized data to the RS-CRC encoder 1412. At this point, since thedata randomizer 1411 performs the randomizing process on the mobilebroadcast service data, the randomizing process that is to be performedby the data randomizer 1251 of the post-processor 1250 on the mobilebroadcast service data may be omitted. The data randomizer 1411 may alsodiscard the synchronization byte within the mobile broadcast servicedata packet and perform the randomizing process. This is an option thatmay be chosen by the system designer. In the example given in thepresent invention, the randomizing process is performed withoutdiscarding the synchronization byte within the corresponding mobilebroadcast service data packet.

The RS-CRC encoder 1412 uses at least one of a Reed-Solomon (RS) codeand a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code, so as to perform forward errorcollection (FEC) encoding on the randomized primary ensemble, therebyforming a primary RS frame. Therefore, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 outputsthe newly formed primary RS frame to the RS frame divider 1413. TheRS-CRC encoder 1412 groups a plurality of mobile broadcast service datapackets that is randomized and inputted, so as to create a RS frame.Then, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 performs at least one of an errorcorrection encoding process and an error detection encoding process inRS frame units. Accordingly, robustness may be provided to the mobilebroadcast service data, thereby scattering group error that may occurduring changes in a frequency environment, thereby enabling the mobilebroadcast service data to respond to the frequency environment, which isextremely vulnerable and liable to frequent changes. Also, the RS-CRCencoder 1412 groups a plurality of RS frame so as to create a superframe, thereby performing a row permutation process in super frameunits. The row permutation process may also be referred to as a “rowinterleaving process”. Hereinafter, the process will be referred to as“row permutation” for simplicity.

More specifically, when the RS-CRC encoder 1412 performs the process ofpermuting each row of the super frame in accordance with apre-determined rule, the position of the rows within the super framebefore and after the row permutation process is changed. If the rowpermutation process is performed by super frame units, and even thoughthe section having a plurality of errors occurring therein becomes verylong, and even though the number of errors included in the RS frame,which is to be decoded, exceeds the extent of being able to becorrected, the errors become dispersed within the entire super frame.Thus, the decoding ability is even more enhanced as compared to a singleRS frame.

At this point, as an example of the present invention, RS-encoding isapplied for the error correction encoding process, and a cyclicredundancy check (CRC) encoding is applied for the error detectionprocess in the RS-CRC encoder 1412. When performing the RS-encoding,parity data that are used for the error correction are generated. And,when performing the CRC encoding, CRC data that are used for the errordetection are generated. The CRC data generated by CRC encoding may beused for indicating whether or not the mobile broadcast service datahave been damaged by the errors while being transmitted through thechannel. In the present invention, a variety of error detection codingmethods other than the CRC encoding method may be used, or the errorcorrection coding method may be used to enhance the overall errorcorrection ability of the receiving system. Herein, the RS-CRC encoder1412 refers to a pre-determined transmission parameter provided by thecontrol unit 1205 and/or a transmission parameter provided from theservice multiplexer 1100 so as to perform operations including RS frameconfiguration, RS encoding, CRC encoding, super frame configuration, androw permutation in super frame units.

FIG. 31 illustrates a process of one or two RS frame being divided intoseveral portions, based upon an RS frame mode value, and a process ofeach portion being assigned to a corresponding region within therespective data group. More specifically, FIG. 31( a) shows an exampleof the RS frame mode value being equal to ‘00’. Herein, only the primaryencoder 1410 of FIG. 30 operates, thereby forming one RS frame for oneparade. Then, the RS frame is divided into several portions, and thedata of each portion are assigned to regions A/B/C/D within therespective data group. FIG. 31( b) shows an example of the RS frame modevalue being equal to ‘01’. Herein, both the primary encoder 1410 and thesecondary encoder 1420 of FIG. 30 operate, thereby forming two RS framesfor one parade, i.e., one primary RS frame and one secondary RS frame.Then, the primary RS frame is divided into several portions, and thesecondary RS frame is divided into several portions. At this point, thedata of each portion of the primary RS frame are assigned to regions A/Bwithin the respective data group. And, the data of each portion of thesecondary RS frame are assigned to regions C/D within the respectivedata group.

Detailed Description of the RS Frame

FIG. 32( a) illustrates an example of an RS frame being generated fromthe RS-CRC encoder 1412 according to the present invention. According tothis embodiment, in the RS frame, the length of a column (i.e., numberof rows) is set to 187 bytes, and the length of a row (i.e., number ofcolumn) is set to N bytes. At this point, the value of N, whichcorresponds to the number of columns within an RS frame, can be decidedaccording to Equation 2.

$\begin{matrix}{N = {\lfloor \frac{5 \times {NoG} \times {PL}}{187 + P} \rfloor - 2}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2}\end{matrix}$

Herein, NoG indicates the number of data groups assigned to a sub-frame.PL represents the number of SCCC payload data bytes assigned to a datagroup. And, P signifies the number of RS parity data bytes added to eachcolumn of the RS frame. Finally, └X┘ is the greatest integer that isequal to or smaller than X.

More specifically, in Equation 2, PL corresponds to the length of an RSframe portion. The value of PL is equivalent to the number of SCCCpayload data bytes that are assigned to the corresponding data group.Herein, the value of PL may vary depending upon the RS frame mode, SCCCblock mode, and SCCC outer code mode. Table 2 to Table 5 belowrespectively show examples of PL values, which vary in accordance withthe RS frame mode, SCCC block mode, and SCCC outer code mode. The SCCCblock mode and the SCCC outer code mode will be described in detail in alater process.

TABLE 2 SCCC outer code mode for for for for Region A Region B Region CRegion D PL 00 00 00 00 9624 00 00 00 01 9372 00 00 01 00 8886 00 00 0101 8634 00 01 00 00 8403 00 01 00 01 8151 00 01 01 00 7665 00 01 01 017413 01 00 00 00 7023 01 00 00 01 6771 01 00 01 00 6285 01 00 01 01 603301 01 00 00 5802 01 01 00 01 5550 01 01 01 00 5064 01 01 01 01 4812Others Reserved

Table 2 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within anRS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCC outercode mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’, and when theSCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’. For example, when it is assumedthat each SCCC outer code mode value of regions A/B/C/D within the datagroup is equal to ‘00’ (i.e., the block processor 1302 of a later blockperforms encoding at a coding rate of ½), the PL value within each datagroup of the corresponding RS frame may be equal to 9624 bytes. Morespecifically, 9624 bytes of mobile broadcast service data within one RSframe may be assigned to regions A/B/C/D of the corresponding datagroup.

TABLE 3 SCCC outer code mode PL 00 9624 01 4812 Others Reserved

Table 3 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within anRS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCC outercode mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’, and when theSCCC block mode value is equal to ‘01’.

TABLE 4 SCCC outer code mode for Region A for Region B PL 00 00 7644 0001 6423 01 00 5043 01 01 3822 Others Reserved

Table 4 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within aprimary RS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCCouter code mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, and whenthe SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’. For example, when each SCCCouter code mode value of regions A/B is equal to ‘00’, 7644 bytes ofmobile broadcast service data within a primary RS frame may be assignedto regions A/B of the corresponding data group.

TABLE 5 SCCC outer code mode for Region C for Region D PL 00 00 1980 0001 1728 01 00 1242 01 01 990 Others Reserved

Table 5 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within asecondary RS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCCouter code mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, and whenthe SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’. For example, when each SCCCouter code mode value of regions C/D is equal to ‘00’, 1980 bytes ofmobile broadcast service data within a secondary RS frame may beassigned to regions C/D of the corresponding data group.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the value of N isequal to or greater than 187 (i.e., N≧187). More specifically, the RSframe of FIG. 32( a) has the size of N(row)×187(column) bytes. Morespecifically, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 first divides the inputted mobilebroadcast service data bytes to units of a predetermined length. Thepredetermined length is decided by the system designer. And, in theexample of the present invention, the predetermined length is equal to187 bytes, and, therefore, the 187-byte unit will be referred to as a“packet” for simplicity. For example, the inputted mobile broadcastservice data may correspond either to an MPEG transport stream (TS)packet configured of 188-byte units or to an IP datagram. Alternatively,the IP datagram may be encapsulated to a TS packet of 188-byte unitsand, then, inputted.

When the mobile broadcast service data that are being inputtedcorrespond to a MPEG transport packet stream configured of 188-byteunits, the first synchronization byte is removed so as to configure a187-byte unit. Then, N number of packets are grouped to form an RSframe. Herein, the synchronization byte is removed because each mobilebroadcast service data packet has the same value. Meanwhile, when theinput mobile broadcast service data of the RS frame do not correspond tothe MPEG TS packet format, the mobile broadcast service data areinputted N number of times in 187-byte units without being processedwith the removing of the MPEG synchronization byte, thereby creating aRS frame.

In addition, when the input data format of the RS frame supports boththe input data corresponding to the MPEG TS packet and the input datanot corresponding to the MPEG TS packet, such information may beincluded in a transmission parameter transmitted from the servicemultiplexer 1100, thereby being sent to the transmitter 1200.Accordingly, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 of the transmitter 1200 receivesthis information to be able to control whether or not to perform theprocess of removing the MPEG synchronization byte. Also, the transmitterprovides such information to the receiving system so as to control theprocess of inserting the MPEG synchronization byte that is to beperformed by the RS frame decoder of the receiving system. Herein, theprocess of removing the synchronization byte may be performed during arandomizing process of the data randomizer 1411 in an earlier process.In this case, the process of the removing the synchronization byte bythe RS-CRC encoder 1412 may be omitted.

Moreover, when adding synchronization bytes from the receiving system,the process may be performed by the data derandomizer instead of the RSframe decoder. Therefore, if a removable fixed byte (e.g.,synchronization byte) does not exist within the mobile broadcast servicedata packet that is being inputted to the RS-CRC encoder 1412, or if themobile broadcast service data that are being inputted are not configuredin a packet format, the mobile broadcast service data that are beinginputted are divided into 187-byte units, thereby configuring a packetfor each 187-byte unit.

Subsequently, N number of packets configured of 187 bytes is grouped toconfigure a RS frame. At this point, the RS frame is configured as a RSframe having the size of N(row)×187(column) bytes, in which 187-bytepackets are sequentially inputted in a row direction. More specifically,each of the N number of columns included in the RS frame includes 187bytes. When the RS frame is created, as shown in FIG. 32( a), the RS-CRCencoder 1412 performs a (Nc,Kc)−RS encoding process on each column, soas to generate Nc−Kc(=P) number of parity bytes. Then, the RS-CRCencoder 1412 adds the newly generated P number of parity bytes after thevery last byte of the corresponding column, thereby creating a column of(187+P) bytes. Herein, as shown in FIG. 32( a), Kc is equal to 187(i.e., Kc=187), and Nc is equal to 187+P (i.e., Nc=187+P). Herein, thevalue of P may vary depending upon the RS code mode. Table 6 below showsan example of an RS code mode, as one of the RS encoding information.

TABLE 6 RS code Number of Parity mode RS code Bytes (P) 00 (211, 187) 2401 (223, 187) 36 10 (235, 187) 48 11 Reserved Reserved

Table 6 shows an example of 2 bits being assigned in order to indicatethe RS code mode. The RS code mode represents the number of parity bytescorresponding to the RS frame. For example, when the RS code mode valueis equal to ‘10’, (235,187)-RS-encoding is performed on the RS frame ofFIG. 32( a), so as to generate 48 parity data bytes. Thereafter, the 48parity bytes are added after the last data byte of the correspondingcolumn, thereby creating a column of 235 data bytes. When the RS framemode value is equal to ‘00’ in Table 1 (i.e., when the RS frame modeindicates a single RS frame), only the RS code mode of the correspondingRS frame is indicated. However, when the RS frame mode value is equal to‘01’ in Table 1 (i.e., when the RS frame mode indicates multiple RSframes), the RS code mode corresponding to a primary RS frame and asecondary RS frame. More specifically, it is preferable that the RS codemode is independently applied to the primary RS frame and the secondaryRS frame.

When such RS encoding process is performed on all N number of columns, aRS frame having the size of N(row)×(187+P)(column) bytes may be created,as shown in FIG. 32( b). Each row of the RS frame is configured of Nbytes. However, depending upon channel conditions between thetransmitting system and the receiving system, error may be included inthe RS frame. When errors occur as described above, CRC data (or CRCcode or CRC checksum) may be used on each row unit in order to verifywhether error exists in each row unit. The RS-CRC encoder 1412 mayperform CRC encoding on the mobile broadcast service data being RSencoded so as to create (or generate) the CRC data. The CRC data beinggenerated by CRC encoding may be used to indicate whether the mobilebroadcast service data have been damaged while being transmitted throughthe channel.

The present invention may also use different error detection encodingmethods other than the CRC encoding method. Alternatively, the presentinvention may use the error correction encoding method to enhance theoverall error correction ability of the receiving system. FIG. 32( c)illustrates an example of using a 2-byte (i.e., 16-bit) CRC checksum asthe CRC data. Herein, a 2-byte CRC checksum is generated for N number ofbytes of each row, thereby adding the 2-byte CRC checksum at the end ofthe N number of bytes. Thus, each row is expanded to (N+2) number ofbytes. Equation 3 below corresponds to an exemplary equation forgenerating a 2-byte CRC checksum for each row being configured of Nnumber of bytes.

g(x)=x ¹⁶ +x ¹² +x ⁵+1  Equation 3

The process of adding a 2-byte checksum in each row is only exemplary.Therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the exampleproposed in the description set forth herein. As described above, whenthe process of RS encoding and CRC encoding are completed, the(N×187)-byte RS frame is expanded to a (N+2)×(187+P)-byte RS frame.Based upon an error correction scenario of a RS frame expanded asdescribed above, the data bytes within the RS frame are transmittedthrough a channel in a row direction. At this point, when a large numberof errors occur during a limited period of transmission time, errorsalso occur in a row direction within the RS frame being processed with adecoding process in the receiving system. However, in the perspective ofRS encoding performed in a column direction, the errors are shown asbeing scattered. Therefore, error correction may be performed moreeffectively. At this point, a method of increasing the number of paritydata bytes (P) may be used in order to perform a more intense errorcorrection process. However, using this method may lead to a decrease intransmission efficiency. Therefore, a mutually advantageous method isrequired. Furthermore, when performing the decoding process, an erasuredecoding process may be used to enhance the error correctionperformance.

Additionally, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 according to the present inventionalso performs a row permutation (or interleaving) process in super frameunits in order to further enhance the error correction performance whenerror correction the RS frame. FIG. 33( a) to FIG. 33( d) illustrates anexample of performing a row permutation process in super frame unitsaccording to the present invention. More specifically, G number of RSframes RS-CRC-encoded is grouped to form a super frame, as shown in FIG.33( a). At this point, since each RS frame is formed of (N+2)×(187+P)number of bytes, one super frame is configured to have the size of(N+2)×(187+P)×G bytes.

When a row permutation process permuting each row of the super frameconfigured as described above is performed based upon a pre-determinedpermutation rule, the positions of the rows prior to and after beingpermuted (or interleaved) within the super frame may be altered. Morespecifically, the i^(th) row of the super frame prior to theinterleaving process, as shown in FIG. 33( b), is positioned in thej^(th) row of the same super frame after the row permutation process, asshown in FIG. 33( c). The above-described relation between i and j canbe easily understood with reference to a permutation rule as shown inEquation 4 below.

j=G(i mod(187+P))+└i/(187+P)┘

i=(187+P)(j mod G)+└j/G┘  Equation 4

where 0≦i, j≦(187+P)G−1; or

where 0≦i, j<(187+P)G

Herein, each row of the super frame is configured of (N+2) number ofdata bytes even after being row-permuted in super frame units.

When all row permutation processes in super frame units are completed,the super frame is once again divided into G number of row-permuted RSframes, as shown in FIG. 33( d), and then provided to the RS framedivider 1413. Herein, the number of RS parity bytes and the number ofcolumns should be equally provided in each of the RS frames, whichconfigure a super frame. As described in the error correction scenarioof a RS frame, in case of the super frame, a section having a largenumber of error occurring therein is so long that, even when one RSframe that is to be decoded includes an excessive number of errors(i.e., to an extent that the errors cannot be corrected), such errorsare scattered throughout the entire super frame. Therefore, incomparison with a single RS frame, the decoding performance of the superframe is more enhanced.

The above description of the present invention corresponds to theprocesses of forming (or creating) and encoding an RS frame, when a datagroup is divided into regions A/B/C/D, and when data of an RS frame areassigned to all of regions A/B/C/D within the corresponding data group.More specifically, the above description corresponds to an embodiment ofthe present invention, wherein one RS frame is transmitted using oneparade. In this embodiment, the secondary encoder 1420 does not operate(or is not active).

Meanwhile, 2 RS frames are transmitting using one parade, the data ofthe primary RS frame may be assigned to regions A/B within the datagroup and be transmitted, and the data of the secondary RS frame may beassigned to regions C/D within the data group and be transmitted. Atthis point, the primary encoder 1410 receives the mobile broadcastservice data that are to be assigned to regions A/B within the datagroup, so as to form the primary RS frame, thereby performingRS-encoding and CRC-encoding. Similarly, the secondary encoder 1420receives the mobile broadcast service data that are to be assigned toregions C/D within the data group, so as to form the secondary RS frame,thereby performing RS-encoding and CRC-encoding. More specifically, theprimary RS frame and the secondary RS frame are created independently.

FIG. 34 illustrates examples of receiving the mobile broadcast servicedata that are to be assigned to regions A/B within the data group, so asto form the primary RS frame, and receives the mobile broadcast servicedata that are to be assigned to regions C/D within the data group, so asto form the secondary RS frame, thereby performing error correctionencoding and error detection encoding on each of the first and secondaryRS frames. More specifically, FIG. 34( a) illustrates an example of theRS-CRC encoder 1412 of the primary encoder 1410 receiving mobilebroadcast service data of the primary ensemble that are to be assignedto regions A/B within the corresponding data group, so as to create anRS frame having the size of N1(row)×187(column). Then, in this example,the primary encoder 1410 performs RS-encoding on each column of the RSframe created as described above, thereby adding P1 number of paritydata bytes in each column. Finally, the primary encoder 1410 performsCRC-encoding on each row, thereby adding a 2-byte checksum in each row.

FIG. 34( b) illustrates an example of the RS-CRC encoder 1422 of thesecondary encoder 1420 receiving mobile broadcast service data of thesecondary ensemble that are to be assigned to regions C/D within thecorresponding data group, so as to create an RS frame having the size ofN2(row)×187(column). Then, in this example, the secondary encoder 1420performs RS-encoding on each column of the RS frame created as describedabove, thereby adding P2 number of parity data bytes in each column.Finally, the secondary encoder 1420 performs CRC-encoding on each row,thereby adding a 2-byte checksum in each row. At this point, each of theRS-CRC encoders 1412 and 1422 may refer to a pre-determined transmissionparameter provided by the control unit 1205 and/or a transmissionparameter provided from the service multiplexer 1100, the RS-CRCencoders 1412 and 1422 may be informed of RS frame information(including RS frame mode), RS encoding information (including RS codemode), SCCC information (including SCCC block information and SCCC outercode mode), data group information, and region information within a datagroup. The RS-CRC encoders 1412 and 1422 may refer to the transmissionparameters for the purpose of RS frame configuration, error correctionencoding, error detection encoding. Furthermore, the transmissionparameters should also be transmitted to the receiving system so thatthe receiving system can perform a normal decoding process.

The data of the primary RS frame, which is encoded by RS frame units androw-permuted by super frame units from the RS-CRC encoder 1412 of theprimary encoder 1410, are outputted to the RS frame divider 1413. If thesecondary encoder 1420 also operates in the embodiment of the presentinvention, the data of the secondary RS frame, which is encoded by RSframe units and row-permuted by super frame units from the RS-CRCencoder 1422 of the secondary encoder 1420, are outputted to the RSframe divider 1423. The RS frame divider 1413 of the primary encoder1410 divides the primary RS frame into several portions, which are thenoutputted to the output multiplexer (MUX) 1320. Each portion of theprimary RS frame is equivalent to a data amount that can be transmittedby one data group. Similarly, the RS frame divider 1423 of the secondaryencoder 1420 divides the secondary RS frame into several portions, whichare then outputted to the output multiplexer (MUX) 1320.

Hereinafter, the RS frame divider 1413 of the primary RS encoder 1410will now be described in detail. Also, in order to simplify thedescription of the present invention, it is assumed that an RS framehaving the size of N(row)×187(column), as shown in FIG. 32( a) to FIG.32( c), that P number of parity data bytes are added to each column byRS-encoding the RS frame, and that a 2-byte checksum is added to eachrow by CRC-encoding the RS frame. Accordingly, the RS frame divider 1413divides (or partitions) the encoded RS frame having the size of(N+2)(row)×187(column) into several portions, each having the size of PL(wherein PL corresponds to the length of the RS frame portion).

At this point, as shown in Table 2 to Table 5, the value of PL may varydepending upon the RS frame mode, SCCC block mode, and SCCC outer codermode. Also, the total number of data bytes of the RS-encoded andCRC-encoded RS frame is equal to or smaller than 5×NoG×PL. In this case,the RS frame is divided (or partitioned) into ((5×NoG)−1) number ofportions each having the size of PL and one portion having a size equalto smaller than PL. More specifically, with the exception of the lastportion of the RS frame, each of the remaining portions of the RS framehas an equal size of PL. If the size of the last portion is smaller thanPL, a stuffing byte (or dummy byte) may be inserted in order to fill (orreplace) the lacking number of data bytes, thereby enabling the lastportion of the RS frame to also be equal to PL. Each portion of an RSframe corresponds to the amount of data that are to be SCCC-encoded andmapped into a single data group of a parade.

FIG. 35( a) and FIG. 35( b) respectively illustrate examples of adding Snumber of stuffing bytes, when an RS frame having the size of(N+2)(row)×(187+P)(column) is divided into 5×NoG number of portions,each having the size of PL. More specifically, the RS-encoded andCRC-encoded RS frame, shown in FIG. 35( a), is divided into severalportions, as shown in FIG. 35( b). The number of divided portions at theRS frame is equal to (5×NoG). Particularly, the first ((5×NoG)−1) numberof portions each has the size of PL, and the last portion of the RSframe may be equal to or smaller than PL. If the size of the lastportion is smaller than PL, a stuffing byte (or dummy byte) may beinserted in order to fill (or replace) the lacking number of data bytes,as shown in Equation 5 below, thereby enabling the last portion of theRS frame to also be equal to PL.

S=(5×NoG×PL)−((N+2)×(187+P))  Equation 5

Herein, each portion including data having the size of PL passes throughthe output multiplexer 1320 of the MPH frame encoder 1301, which is thenoutputted to the block processor 1302.

At this point, the mapping order of the RS frame portions to a parade ofdata groups in not identical with the group assignment order defined inEquation 1. When given the group positions of a parade in an MPH frame,the SCCC-encoded RS frame portions will be mapped in a time order (i.e.,in a left-to-right direction). For example, as shown in FIG. 23, datagroups of the 2^(nd) parade (Parade #1) are first assigned (orallocated) to the 13^(th) slot (Slot #12) and then assigned to the3^(rd) slot (Slot #2). However, when the data are actually placed in theassigned slots, the data are placed in a time sequence (or time order,i.e., in a left-to-right direction). More specifically, the 1^(st) datagroup of Parade #1 is placed in Slot #2, and the 2^(nd) data group ofParade #1 is placed in Slot #12.

Block Processor

Meanwhile, the block processor 1302 performs an SCCC outer encodingprocess on the output of the MPH frame encoder 1301. More specifically,the block processor 1302 receives the data of each error correctionencoded portion. Then, the block processor 1302 encodes the data onceagain at a coding rate of 1/H (wherein H is an integer equal to orgreater than 2 (i.e., H≧22)), thereby outputting the 1/H-rate encodeddata to the group formatter 1303. According to the embodiment of thepresent invention, the input data are encoded either at a coding rate of½ (also referred to as “½-rate encoding”) or at a coding rate of ¼ (alsoreferred to as “¼-rate encoding”). The data of each portion outputtedfrom the MPH frame encoder 1301 may include at least one of pure mobilebroadcast service data, RS parity data, CRC data, and stuffing data.However, in a broader meaning, the data included in each portion maycorrespond to data for mobile broadcast services. Therefore, the dataincluded in each portion will all be considered as mobile broadcastservice data and described accordingly.

The group formatter 1303 inserts the mobile broadcast service dataSCCC-outer-encoded and outputted from the block processor 1302 in thecorresponding region within the data group, which is formed inaccordance with a pre-defined rule. Also, in association with the datadeinterleaving process, the group formatter 1303 inserts various placeholders (or known data place holders) in the corresponding region withinthe data group. Thereafter, the group formatter 1303 deinterleaves thedata within the data group and the place holders.

According to the present invention, with reference to data after beingdata-interleaved, as shown in FIG. 17, a data groups is configured of 10MPH blocks (B1 to B10) and divided into 4 regions (A, B, C, and D).Also, as shown in FIG. 17, when it is assumed that the data group isdivided into a plurality of hierarchical regions, as described above,the block processor 1302 may encode the mobile broadcast service data,which are to be inserted to each region based upon the characteristic ofeach hierarchical region, at different coding rates. For example, theblock processor 1302 may encode the mobile broadcast service data, whichare to be inserted in region A/B within the corresponding data group, ata coding rate of ½. Then, the group formatter 1303 may insert the ½-rateencoded mobile broadcast service data to region A/B. Also, the blockprocessor 1302 may encode the mobile broadcast service data, which areto be inserted in region C/D within the corresponding data group, at acoding rate of ¼ having higher (or stronger) error correction abilitythan the ½-coding rate. Thereafter, the group formatter 1303 may insertthe ½-rate encoded mobile broadcast service data to region C/D. Inanother example, the block processor 1302 may encode the mobilebroadcast service data, which are to be inserted in region C/D, at acoding rate having higher error correction ability than the ¼-codingrate. Then, the group formatter 1303 may either insert the encodedmobile broadcast service data to region C/D, as described above, orleave the data in a reserved region for future usage.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the blockprocessor 1302 may perform a 1/H-rate encoding process in SCCC blockunits. Herein, the SCCC block includes at least one MPH block. At thispoint, when 1/H-rate encoding is performed in MPH block units, the MPHblocks (B1 to B10) and the SCCC block (SCB1 to SCB10) become identicalto one another (i.e., SCB1=B1, SCB2=B2, SCB3=B3, SCB4=B4, SCB5=B5,SCB6=B6, SCB7=B7, SCB8=B8, SCB9=B9, and SCB10=B10). For example, the MPHblock 1 (B1) may be encoded at the coding rate of ½, the MPH block 2(B2) may be encoded at the coding rate of ¼, and the MPH block 3 (B3)may be encoded at the coding rate of ½. The coding rates are appliedrespectively to the remaining MPH blocks.

Alternatively, a plurality of MPH blocks within regions A, B, C, and Dmay be grouped into one SCCC block, thereby being encoded at a codingrate of 1/H in SCCC block units. Accordingly, the receiving performanceof region C/D may be enhanced. For example, MPH block 1 (B1) to MPHblock 5 (B5) may be grouped into one SCCC block and then encoded at acoding rate of ½. Thereafter, the group formatter 1303 may insert the½-rate encoded mobile broadcast service data to a section starting fromMPH block 1 (B1) to MPH block 5 (B5). Furthermore, MPH block 6 (B6) toMPH block 10 (B10) may be grouped into one SCCC block and then encodedat a coding rate of ¼. Thereafter, the group formatter 1303 may insertthe ¼-rate encoded mobile broadcast service data to another sectionstarting from MPH block 6 (B6) to MPH block 10 (B10). In this case, onedata group may consist of two SCCC blocks.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, one SCCC blockmay be formed by grouping two MPH blocks. For example, MPH block 1 (B1)and MPH block 6 (B6) may be grouped into one SCCC block (SCB1).Similarly, MPH block 2 (B2) and MPH block 7 (B7) may be grouped intoanother SCCC block (SCB2). Also, MPH block 3 (B3) and MPH block 8 (B8)may be grouped into another SCCC block (SCB3). And, MPH block 4 (B4) andMPH block 9 (B9) may be grouped into another SCCC block (SCB4).Furthermore, MPH block 5 (B5) and MPH block 10 (B10) may be grouped intoanother SCCC block (SCB5). In the above-described example, the datagroup may consist of 10 MPH blocks and 5 SCCC blocks. Accordingly, in adata (or signal) receiving environment undergoing frequent and severechannel changes, the receiving performance of regions C and D, which isrelatively more deteriorated than the receiving performance of region A,may be reinforced. Furthermore, since the number of mobile broadcastservice data symbols increases more and more from region A to region D,the error correction encoding performance becomes more and moredeteriorated. Therefore, when grouping a plurality of MPH block to formone SCCC block, such deterioration in the error correction encodingperformance may be reduced.

As described-above, when the block processor 1302 performs encoding at a1/H-coding rate, information associated with SCCC should be transmittedto the receiving system in order to accurately recover the mobilebroadcast service data. Table 7 below shows an example of a SCCC blockmode, which indicating the relation between an MPH block and an SCCCblock, among diverse SCCC block information.

TABLE 7 SCCC Block Mode 00 01 10 11 Description Two One MPH MPH BlockBlocks per per SCCC SCCC Block Block SCB SCB input, input, MPH MPH SCBBlock Blocks Reserved Reserved SCB1 B1 B1 + B6 SCB2 B2 B2 + B7 SCB3 B3B3 + B8 SCB4 B4 B4 + B9 SCB5 B5 B5 + B10 SCB6 B6 — SCB7 B7 — SCB8 B8 —SCB9 B9 — SCB10 B10 —

More specifically, Table 4 shows an example of 2 bits being allocated inorder to indicate the SCCC block mode. For example, when the SCCC blockmode value is equal to ‘00’, this indicates that the SCCC block and theMPH block are identical to one another. Also, when the SCCC block modevalue is equal to ‘01’, this indicates that each SCCC block isconfigured of 2 MPH blocks.

As described above, if one data group is configured of 2 SCCC blocks,although it is not indicated in Table 7, this information may also beindicated as the SCCC block mode. For example, when the SCCC block modevalue is equal to ‘10’, this indicates that each SCCC block isconfigured of 5 MPH blocks and that one data group is configured of 2SCCC blocks. Herein, the number of MPH blocks included in an SCCC blockand the position of each MPH block may vary depending upon the settingsmade by the system designer. Therefore, the present invention will notbe limited to the examples given herein. Accordingly, the SCCC modeinformation may also be expanded.

An example of a coding rate information of the SCCC block, i.e., SCCCouter code mode, is shown in Table 8 below.

TABLE 8 SCCC outer code mode (2 bits) Description 00 Outer code rate ofSCCC block is ½ rate 01 Outer code rate of SCCC block is ¼ rate 10Reserved 11 Reserved

More specifically, Table 8 shows an example of 2 bits being allocated inorder to indicate the coding rate information of the SCCC block. Forexample, when the SCCC outer code mode value is equal to ‘00’, thisindicates that the coding rate of the corresponding SCCC block is ½.And, when the SCCC outer code mode value is equal to ‘01’, thisindicates that the coding rate of the corresponding SCCC block is ¼.

If the SCCC block mode value of Table 7 indicates ‘00’, the SCCC outercode mode may indicate the coding rate of each MPH block with respect toeach MPH block. In this case, since it is assumed that one data groupincludes 10 MPH blocks and that 2 bits are allocated for each SCCC blockmode, a total of 20 bits are required for indicating the SCCC blockmodes of the 10 MPH modes. In another example, when the SCCC block modevalue of Table 7 indicates ‘00’, the SCCC outer code mode may indicatethe coding rate of each region with respect to each region within thedata group. In this case, since it is assumed that one data groupincludes 4 regions (i.e., regions A, B, C, and D) and that 2 bits areallocated for each SCCC block mode, a total of 8 bits are required forindicating the SCCC block modes of the 4 regions. In another example,when the SCCC block mode value of Table 7 is equal to ‘01’, each of theregions A, B, C, and D within the data group has the same SCCC outercode mode.

Meanwhile, an example of an SCCC output block length (SOBL) for eachSCCC block, when the SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’, is shown inTable 9 below.

TABLE 9 SIBL SCCC ½ ¼ Block SOBL rate rate SCB1 (B1) 528 264 132 SCB2(B2) 1536 768 384 SCB3 (B3) 2376 1188 594 SCB4 (B4) 2388 1194 597 SCB5(B5) 2772 1386 693 SCB6 (B6) 2472 1236 618 SCB7 (B7) 2772 1386 693 SCB8(B8) 2508 1254 627 SCB9 (B9) 1416 708 354 SCB10 480 240 120 (B10)

More specifically, when given the SCCC output block length (SOBL) foreach SCCC block, an SCCC input block length (SIBL) for eachcorresponding SCCC block may be decided based upon the outer coding rateof each SCCC block. The SOBL is equivalent to the number of SCCC output(or outer-encoded) bytes for each SCCC block. And, the SIBL isequivalent to the number of SCCC input (or payload) bytes for each SCCCblock. Table 10 below shows an example of the SOBL and SIBL for eachSCCC block, when the SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘01’.

TABLE 10 SIBL ½ ¼ SCCC Block SOBL rate rate SCB1 528 264 132 (B1 + B6)SCB2 1536 768 384 (B2 + B7) SCB3 2376 1188 594 (B3 + B8) SCB4 2388 1194597 (B4 + B9) SCB5 2772 1386 693 (B5 + B10)

In order to do so, as shown in FIG. 36, the block processor 1302includes a RS frame portion-SCCC block converter 1511, a byte-bitconverter 1512, a convolution encoder 1513, a symbol interleaver 1514, asymbol-byte converter 1515, and an SCCC block-MPH block converter 1516.The convolutional encoder 1513 and the symbol interleaver 1514 arevirtually concatenated with the trellis encoding module in thepost-processor in order to configure an SCCC block. More specifically,the RS frame portion-SCCC block converter 1511 divides the RS frameportions, which are being inputted, into multiple SCCC blocks using theSIBL of Table 9 and Table 10 based upon the RS code mode, SCCC blockmode, and SCCC outer code mode. Herein, the MPH frame encoder 1301 mayoutput only primary RS frame portions or both primary RS frame portionsand secondary RS frame portions in accordance with the RS frame mode.

When the RS Frame mode is set to ‘00’, a portion of the primary RS Frameequal to the amount of data, which are to be SCCC outer encoded andmapped to 10 MPH blocks (B1 to B10) of a data group, will be provided tothe block processor 1302. When the SCCC block mode value is equal to‘00’, then the primary RS frame portion will be split into 10 SCCCBlocks according to Table 9. Alternatively, when the SCCC block modevalue is equal to ‘01’, then the primary RS frame will be split into 5SCCC blocks according to Table 10.

When the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, then the block processor1302 may receive two RS frame portions. The RS frame mode value of ‘01’will not be used with the SCCC block mode value of ‘01’. The firstportion from the primary RS frame will be SCCC-outer-encoded as SCCCBlocks SCB3, SCB4, SCB5, SCB6, SCB7, and SCB8 by the block processor1302. The SCCC Blocks SCB3 and SCB8 will be mapped to region B and theSCCC blocks SCB4, SCB5, SCB6, and SCB7 shall be mapped to region A bythe group formatter 1303. The second portion from the secondary RS framewill also be SCCC-outer-encoded, as SCB1, SCB2, SCB9, and SCB10, by theblock processor 1302. The group formatter 1303 will map the SCCC blocksSCB1 and SCB10 to region D as the MPH blocks B1 and B10, respectively.Similarly, the SCCC blocks SCB2 and SCB9 will be mapped to region C asthe MPH blocks B2 and B9.

The byte-bit converter 1512 identifies the mobile broadcast service databytes of each SCCC block outputted from the RS frame portion-SCCC blockconverter 1511 as data bits, which are then outputted to the convolutionencoder 1513. The convolution encoder 1513 performs one of ½-rateencoding and ¼-rate encoding on the inputted mobile broadcast servicedata bits.

FIG. 37 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the convolution encoder1513. The convolution encoder 1513 includes two delay units 1521 and1523 and three adders 1522, 1524, and 1525. Herein, the convolutionencoder 1513 encodes an input data bit U and outputs the coded bit U to5 bits (u0 to u4). At this point, the input data bit U is directlyoutputted as uppermost bit u0 and simultaneously encoded as lower bitu1u2u3u4 and then outputted. More specifically, the input data bit U isdirectly outputted as the uppermost bit u0 and simultaneously outputtedto the first and third adders 1522 and 1525.

The first adder 1522 adds the input data bit U and the output bit of thefirst delay unit 1521 and, then, outputs the added bit to the seconddelay unit 1523. Then, the data bit delayed by a pre-determined time(e.g., by 1 clock) in the second delay unit 1523 is outputted as a lowerbit u1 and simultaneously fed-back to the first delay unit 1521. Thefirst delay unit 1521 delays the data bit fed-back from the second delayunit 1523 by a pre-determined time (e.g., by 1 clock). Then, the firstdelay unit 1521 outputs the delayed data bit as a lower bit u2 and, atthe same time, outputs the fed-back data to the first adder 1522 and thesecond adder 1524. The second adder 1524 adds the data bits outputtedfrom the first and second delay units 1521 and 1523 and outputs theadded data bits as a lower bit u3. The third adder 1525 adds the inputdata bit U and the output of the second delay unit 1523 and outputs theadded data bit as a lower bit u4.

At this point, the first and second delay units 1521 and 1523 are resetto ‘0’, at the starting point of each SCCC block. The convolutionencoder 1513 of FIG. 37 may be used as a ½-rate encoder or a ¼-rateencoder. More specifically, when a portion of the output bit of theconvolution encoder 1513, shown in FIG. 37, is selected and outputted,the convolution encoder 1513 may be used as one of a ½-rate encoder anda ¼-rate encoder. Table 11 below shown an example of output symbols ofthe convolution encoder 1513.

TABLE 11 ¼ rate SCCC block SCCC block ½ mode = mode = Region rate ‘00’‘01’ A, B (u0, (u0, u2), (u1, (u0, u2), (u1, u1) u3) u4) C, D (u0, u1),(u3, u4)

For example, at the ½-coding rate, 1 output symbol (i.e., u0 and u1bits) may be selected and outputted. And, at the ¼-coding rate,depending upon the SCCC block mode, 2 output symbols (i.e., 4 bits) maybe selected and outputted. For example, when the SCCC block mode valueis equal to ‘01’, and when an output symbol configured of u0 and u2 andanother output symbol configured of u1 and u4 are selected andoutputted, a ¼-rate coding result may be obtained.

The mobile broadcast service data encoded at the coding rate of ½ or ¼by the convolution encoder 1513 are outputted to the symbol interleaver1514. The symbol interleaver 1514 performs block interleaving, in symbolunits, on the output data symbol of the convolution encoder 1513. Morespecifically, the symbol interleaver 1514 is a type of blockinterleaver. Any interleaver performing structural rearrangement (orrealignment) may be applied as the symbol interleaver 1514 of the blockprocessor. However, in the present invention, a variable length symbolinterleaver that can be applied even when a plurality of lengths isprovided for the symbol, so that its order may be rearranged, may alsobe used.

FIG. 38 illustrates a symbol interleaver according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Particularly, FIG. 38 illustrates an example ofthe symbol interleaver when B=2112 and L=4096. Herein, B indicates ablock length in symbols that are outputted for symbol interleaving fromthe convolution encoder 1513. And, L represents a block length insymbols that are actually interleaved by the symbol interleaver 1514. Atthis point, the block length in symbols B inputted to the symbolinterleaver 1514 is equivalent to 4×SOBL. More specifically, since onesymbol is configured of 2 bits, the value of B may be set to be equal to4×SOBL.

In the present invention, when performing the symbol-intereleavingprocess, the conditions of L=2^(m) (wherein m is an integer) and of L≧Bshould be satisfied. If there is a difference in value between B and L,(L−B) number of null (or dummy) symbols is added, thereby creating aninterleaving pattern, as shown in P′(i) of FIG. 38. Therefore, B becomesa block size of the actual symbols that are inputted to the symbolinterleaver 1514 in order to be interleaved. L becomes an interleavingunit when the interleaving process is performed by an interleavingpattern created from the symbol interleaver 1514.

Equation 6 shown below describes the process of sequentially receiving Bnumber of symbols, the order of which is to be rearranged, and obtainingan L value satisfying the conditions of L=2^(m) (wherein m is aninteger) and of L≧B, thereby creating the interleaving so as to realign(or rearrange) the symbol order.

In relation to all places, wherein 0≦i≦B−1,

P′(i)={89×i×(i+1)/2} mod L  Equation 6

Herein, L≧B, L=2^(m), wherein m is an integer.

As shown in P′(i) of FIG. 38, the order of B number of input symbols and(L−B) number of null symbols is rearranged by using the above-mentionedEquation 6. Then, as shown in P(i) of FIG. 38, the null byte places areremoved, so as to rearrange the order. Starting with the lowest value ofi, the P(i) are shifted to the left in order to fill the empty entrylocations. Thereafter, the symbols of the aligned interleaving patternP(i) are outputted to the symbol-byte converter 1515 in order. Herein,the symbol-byte converter 1515 converts to bytes the mobile broadcastservice data symbols, having the rearranging of the symbol ordercompleted and then outputted in accordance with the rearranged order,and thereafter outputs the converted bytes to the SCCC block-MPH blockconverter 1516. The SCCC block-MPH block converter 1516 converts thesymbol-interleaved SCCC blocks to MPH blocks, which are then outputtedto the group formatter 1303.

If the SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’, the SCCC block is mappedat a one-to-one (1:1) correspondence with each MPH block within the datagroup. In another example, if the SCCC block mode value is equal to‘01’, each SCCC block is mapped with two MPH blocks within the datagroup. For example, the SCCC block SCB1 is mapped with (B1, B6), theSCCC block SCB2 is mapped with (B2, B7), the SCCC block SCB3 is mappedwith (B3, B8), the SCCC block SCB4 is mapped with (B4, B9), and the SCCCblock SCB5 is mapped with (B5, B10). The MPH block that is outputtedfrom the SCCC block-MPH block converter 1516 is configured of mobilebroadcast service data and FEC redundancy. In the present invention, themobile broadcast service data as well as the FEC redundancy of the MPHblock will be collectively considered as mobile broadcast service data.

Group Formatter

The group formatter 1303 inserts data of MPH blocks outputted from theblock processor 1302 to the corresponding MPH blocks within the datagroup, which is formed in accordance with a pre-defined rule. Also, inassociation with the data-deinterleaving process, the group formatter1303 inserts various place holders (or known data place holders) in thecorresponding region within the data group. More specifically, apartfrom the encoded mobile broadcast service data outputted from the blockprocessor 1302, the group formatter 1303 also inserts MPEG header placeholders, non-systematic RS parity place holders, main broadcast servicedata place holders, which are associated with the data deinterleaving ina later process, as shown in FIG. 17.

Herein, the main broadcast service data place holders are insertedbecause the mobile broadcast service data bytes and the main broadcastservice data bytes are alternately mixed with one another in regions Bto D based upon the input of the data deinterleaver, as shown in FIG.17. For example, based upon the data outputted after datadeinterleaving, the place holder for the MPEG header may be allocated atthe very beginning of each packet. Also, in order to configure anintended group format, dummy bytes may also be inserted. Furthermore,the group formatter 1303 inserts place holders for initializing thetrellis encoding module 1256 in the corresponding regions. For example,the initialization data place holders may be inserted in the beginningof the known data sequence. Additionally, the group formatter 1303 mayalso insert signaling information, which are encoded and outputted fromthe signaling encoder 1304, in corresponding regions within the datagroup. At this point, reference may be made to the signaling informationwhen the group formatter 1303 inserts each data type and respectiveplace holders in the data group. The process of encoding the signalinginformation and inserting the encoded signaling information to the datagroup will be described in detail in a later process.

After inserting each data type and respective place holders in the datagroup, the group formatter 1303 may deinterleave the data and respectiveplace holders, which have been inserted in the data group, as an inverseprocess of the data interleaver, thereby outputting the deinterleaveddata and respective place holders to the packet encoder 1304. Morespecifically, when the data and respective place holders within the datagroup, which is configured (or structured) as shown in FIG. 17, aredeinterleaved by the group formatter 1303 and outputted to the packetencoder 1304, the structure of the data group may be identical to thestructure shown in FIG. 19. In order to do so, the group formatter 1303may include a group format organizer 1527, and a data deinterleaver1529, as shown in FIG. 39. The group format organizer 1527 inserts dataand respective place holders in the corresponding regions within thedata group, as described above. And, the data deinterleaver 1529deinterleaves the inserted data and respective place holders as aninverse process of the data interleaver.

The packet encoder 1304 removes the main broadcast service data placeholders and the RS parity place holders that were allocated for thedeinterleaving process from the deinterleaved data being inputted. Then,the packet encoder 1304 groups the remaining portion and inserts the3-byte MPEG header place holder in an MPEG header having a null packetPID (or an unused PID from the main broadcast service data packet).Furthermore, the packet encoder 1304 adds a synchronization data byte atthe beginning of each 187-byte data packet. Also, when the groupformatter 1303 inserts known data place holders, the packet formatter1303 may insert actual known data in the known data place holders, ormay directly output the known data place holders without anymodification in order to make replacement insertion in a later process.Thereafter, the packet encoder 1304 identifies the data within thepacket-formatted data group, as described above, as a 188-byte unitmobile broadcast service data packet (i.e., MPEG TS packet), which isthen provided to the packet multiplexer 1240.

Based upon the control of the control unit 1205, the packet multiplexer1240 multiplexes the data group packet-formatted and outputted from thepacket formatter 306 and the main broadcast service data packetoutputted from the packet jitter mitigator 1220. Then, the packetmultiplexer 1240 outputs the multiplexed data packets to the datarandomizer 1251 of the post-processor 1250. More specifically, thecontrol unit 1205 controls the time-multiplexing of the packetmultiplexer 1240. If the packet multiplexer 1240 receives 118 mobilebroadcast service data packets from the packet encoder 1304, 37 mobilebroadcast service data packets are placed before a place for insertingVSB field synchronization. Then, the remaining 81 mobile broadcastservice data packets are placed after the place for inserting VSB fieldsynchronization. The multiplexing method may be adjusted by diversevariables of the system design. The multiplexing method and multiplexingrule of the packet multiplexer 1240 will be described in more detail ina later process.

Also, since a data group including mobile broadcast service datain-between the data bytes of the main broadcast service data ismultiplexed (or allocated) during the packet multiplexing process, theshifting of the chronological position (or place) of the main broadcastservice data packet becomes relative. Also, a system object decoder(i.e., MPEG decoder) for processing the main broadcast service data ofthe receiving system, receives and decodes only the main broadcastservice data and recognizes the mobile broadcast service data packet asa null data packet.

Therefore, when the system object decoder of the receiving systemreceives a main broadcast service data packet that is multiplexed withthe data group, a packet jitter occurs.

At this point, since a multiple-level buffer for the video data existsin the system object decoder and the size of the buffer is relativelylarge, the packet jitter generated from the packet multiplexer 1240 doesnot cause any serious problem in case of the video data. However, sincethe size of the buffer for the audio data in the object decoder isrelatively small, the packet jitter may cause considerable problem. Morespecifically, due to the packet jitter, an overflow or underflow mayoccur in the buffer for the main broadcast service data of the receivingsystem (e.g., the buffer for the audio data). Therefore, the packetjitter mitigator 1220 re-adjusts the relative position of the mainbroadcast service data packet so that the overflow or underflow does notoccur in the system object decoder.

In the present invention, examples of repositioning places for the audiodata packets within the main broadcast service data in order to minimizethe influence on the operations of the audio buffer will be described indetail. The packet jitter mitigator 1220 repositions the audio datapackets in the main broadcast service data section so that the audiodata packets of the main broadcast service data can be as equally anduniformly aligned and positioned as possible. Additionally, when thepositions of the main broadcast service data packets are relativelyre-adjusted, associated program clock reference (PCR) values may also bemodified accordingly. The PCR value corresponds to a time referencevalue for synchronizing the time of the MPEG decoder. Herein, the PCRvalue is inserted in a specific region of a TS packet and thentransmitted.

In the example of the present invention, the packet jitter mitigator1220 also performs the operation of modifying the PCR value. The outputof the packet jitter mitigator 1220 is inputted to the packetmultiplexer 1240. As described above, the packet multiplexer 1240multiplexes the main broadcast service data packet outputted from thepacket jitter mitigator 1220 with the mobile broadcast service datapacket outputted from the pre-processor 1230 into a burst structure inaccordance with a pre-determined multiplexing rule. Then, the packetmultiplexer 1240 outputs the multiplexed data packets to the datarandomizer 1251 of the post-processor 1250.

If the inputted data correspond to the main broadcast service datapacket, the data randomizer 1251 performs the same randomizing processas that of the conventional randomizer. More specifically, thesynchronization byte within the main broadcast service data packet isdeleted. Then, the remaining 187 data bytes are randomized by using apseudo random byte generated from the data randomizer 1251. Thereafter,the randomized data are outputted to the RS encoder/non-systematic RSencoder 1252.

On the other hand, if the inputted data correspond to the mobilebroadcast service data packet, the data randomizer 1251 may randomizeonly a portion of the data packet. For example, if it is assumed that arandomizing process has already been performed in advance on the mobilebroadcast service data packet by the pre-processor 1230, the datarandomizer 1251 deletes the synchronization byte from the 4-byte MPEGheader included in the mobile broadcast service data packet and, then,performs the randomizing process only on the remaining 3 data bytes ofthe MPEG header. Thereafter, the randomized data bytes are outputted tothe RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder 1252. More specifically, therandomizing process is not performed on the remaining portion of themobile broadcast service data excluding the MPEG header. In other words,the remaining portion of the mobile broadcast service data packet isdirectly outputted to the RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder 1252without being randomized. Also, the data randomizer 1251 may or may notperform a randomizing process on the known data (or known data placeholders) and the initialization data place holders included in themobile broadcast service data packet.

The RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder 1252 performs an RS encodingprocess on the data being randomized by the data randomizer 1251 or onthe data bypassing the data randomizer 1251, so as to add 20 bytes of RSparity data. Thereafter, the processed data are outputted to the datainterleaver 1253. Herein, if the inputted data correspond to the mainbroadcast service data packet, the RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder1252 performs the same systematic RS encoding process as that of theconventional broadcasting system, thereby adding the 20-byte RS paritydata at the end of the 187-byte data. Alternatively, if the inputteddata correspond to the mobile broadcast service data packet, the RSencoder/non-systematic RS encoder 1252 performs a non-systematic RSencoding process. At this point, the 20-byte RS parity data obtainedfrom the non-systematic RS encoding process are inserted in apre-decided parity byte place within the mobile broadcast service datapacket.

The data interleaver 1253 corresponds to a byte unit convolutionalinterleaver. The output of the data interleaver 1253 is inputted to theparity replacer 1254 and to the non-systematic RS encoder 1255.Meanwhile, a process of initializing a memory within the trellisencoding module 1256 is primarily required in order to decide the outputdata of the trellis encoding module 1256, which is located after theparity replacer 1254, as the known data pre-defined according to anagreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system. Morespecifically, the memory of the trellis encoding module 1256 shouldfirst be initialized before the received known data sequence istrellis-encoded. At this point, the beginning portion of the known datasequence that is received corresponds to the initialization data placeholder and not to the actual known data. Herein, the initialization dataplace holder has been included in the data by the group formatter withinthe pre-processor 1230 in an earlier process. Therefore, the process ofgenerating initialization data and replacing the initialization dataplace holder of the corresponding memory with the generatedinitialization data are required to be performed immediately before theinputted known data sequence is trellis-encoded.

Additionally, a value of the trellis memory initialization data isdecided and generated based upon a memory status of the trellis encodingmodule 1256. Further, due to the newly replaced initialization data, aprocess of newly calculating the RS parity and replacing the RS parity,which is outputted from the data interleaver 1253, with the newlycalculated RS parity is required. Therefore, the non-systematic RSencoder 1255 receives the mobile broadcast service data packet includingthe initialization data place holders, which are to be replaced with theactual initialization data, from the data interleaver 1253 and alsoreceives the initialization data from the trellis encoding module 1256.

Among the inputted mobile broadcast service data packet, theinitialization data place holders are replaced with the initializationdata, and the RS parity data that are added to the mobile broadcastservice data packet are removed and processed with non-systematic RSencoding. Thereafter, the new RS parity obtained by performing thenon-systematic RS encoding process is outputted to the parity replacer255. Accordingly, the parity replacer 255 selects the output of the datainterleaver 1253 as the data within the mobile broadcast service datapacket, and the parity replacer 255 selects the output of thenon-systematic RS encoder 1255 as the RS parity. The selected data arethen outputted to the trellis encoding module 1256.

Meanwhile, if the main broadcast service data packet is inputted or ifthe mobile broadcast service data packet, which does not include anyinitialization data place holders that are to be replaced, is inputted,the parity replacer 1254 selects the data and RS parity that areoutputted from the data interleaver 1253. Then, the parity replacer 1254directly outputs the selected data to the trellis encoding module 1256without any modification. The trellis encoding module 1256 converts thebyte-unit data to symbol units and performs a 12-way interleavingprocess so as to trellis-encode the received data. Thereafter, theprocessed data are outputted to the synchronization multiplexer 1260.

FIG. 40 illustrates a detailed diagram of one of 12 trellis encodersincluded in the trellis encoding module 1256. Herein, the trellisencoder includes first and second multiplexers 1531 and 1541, first andsecond adders 1532 and 1542, and first to third memories 1533, 1542, and1544. More specifically, the first to third memories 1533, 1542, and1544 are initialized by a set of trellis initialization data inserted inan initialization data place holder by the parity replacer 1254 and,then, outputted. More specifically, when the first two 2-bit symbols,which are converted from each trellis initialization data byte, areinputted, the input bits of the trellis encoder will be replaced by thememory values of the trellis encoder, as shown in FIG. 40.

Since 2 symbols (i.e., 4 bits) are required for trellis initialization,the last 2 symbols (i.e., 4 bits) from the trellis initialization bytesare not used for trellis initialization and are considered as a symbolfrom a known data byte and processed accordingly. When the trellisencoder is in the initialization mode, the input comes from an internaltrellis status (or state) and not from the parity replacer 1254. Whenthe trellis encoder is in the normal mode, the input symbol providedfrom the parity replacer 1254 will be processed. The trellis encoderprovides the converted (or modified) input data for trellisinitialization to the non-systematic RS encoder 1255.

More specifically, when a selection signal designates a normal mode, thefirst multiplexer 1531 selects an upper bit X2 of the input symbol. And,when a selection signal designates an initialization mode, the firstmultiplexer 1531 selects the output of the first memory 1533 and outputsthe selected output data to the first adder 1532. The first adder 1532adds the output of the first multiplexer 1531 and the output of thefirst memory 1533, thereby outputting the added result to the firstmemory 1533 and, at the same time, as a most significant (or uppermost)bit Z2. The first memory 1533 delays the output data of the first adder1532 by 1 clock, thereby outputting the delayed data to the firstmultiplexer 1531 and the first adder 1532.

Meanwhile, when a selection signal designates a normal mode, the secondmultiplexer 1541 selects a lower bit X1 of the input symbol. And, when aselection signal designates an initialization mode, the secondmultiplexer 1541 selects the output of the second memory 1542, therebyoutputting the selected result to the second adder 1543 and, at the sametime, as a lower bit Z1. The second adder 1543 adds the output of thesecond multiplexer 1541 and the output of the second memory 1542,thereby outputting the added result to the third memory 1544. The thirdmemory 1544 delays the output data of the second adder 1543 by 1 clock,thereby outputting the delayed data to the second memory 1542 and, atthe same time, as a least significant (or lowermost) bit Z0. The secondmemory 1542 delays the output data of the third memory 1544 by 1 clock,thereby outputting the delayed data to the second adder 1543 and thesecond multiplexer 1541.

The synchronization multiplexer 1260 inserts a field synchronizationsignal and a segment synchronization signal to the data outputted fromthe trellis encoding module 1256 and, then, outputs the processed datato the pilot inserter 1271 of the transmission unit 1270. Herein, thedata having a pilot inserted therein by the pilot inserter 1271 aremodulated by the modulator 1272 in accordance with a pre-determinedmodulating method (e.g., a VSB method). Thereafter, the modulated dataare transmitted to each receiving system though the radio frequency (RF)up-converter 1273.

Multiplexing Method of Packet Multiplexer 1240

Data of the error correction encoded and 1/H-rate encoded primary RSframe (i.e., when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’) orprimary/secondary RS frame (i.e., when the RS frame mode value is equalto ‘01’), are divided into a plurality of data groups by the groupformatter 1303. Then, the divided data portions are assigned to at leastone of regions A to D of each data group or to an MPH block among theMPH blocks B1 to B10, thereby being deinterleaved. Then, thedeinterleaved data group passes through the packet encoder 1304, therebybeing multiplexed with the main broadcast service data by the packetmultiplexer 1240 based upon a de-decided multiplexing rule. The packetmultiplexer 1240 multiplexes a plurality of consecutive data groups, sothat the data groups are assigned to be spaced as far apart from oneanother as possible within the sub-frame. For example, when it isassumed that 3 data groups are assigned to a sub-frame, the data groupsare assigned to a 1^(st) slot (Slot #0), a 5^(th) slot (Slot #4), and a9^(th) slot (Slot #8) in the sub-frame, respectively.

As described-above, in the assignment of the plurality of consecutivedata groups, a plurality of parades are multiplexed and outputted so asto be spaced as far apart from one another as possible within a sub-MPHframe. For example, the method of assigning data groups and the methodof assigning parades may be identically applied to all sub-frames foreach MPH frame or differently applied to each MPH frame.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a plurality of data groups included ina single parade, wherein the number of data groups included in asub-frame is equal to ‘3’, and wherein the data groups are assigned toan MPH frame by the packet multiplexer 1240. Referring to FIG. 22, 3data groups are sequentially assigned to a sub-frame at a cycle periodof 4 slots. Accordingly, when this process is equally performed in the 5sub-frames included in the corresponding MPH frame, 15 data groups areassigned to a single MPH frame. Herein, the 15 data groups correspond todata groups included in a parade.

When data groups of a parade are assigned as shown in FIG. 22, thepacket multiplexer 1240 may either assign main broadcast service data toeach data group, or assign data groups corresponding to differentparades between each data group. More specifically, the packetmultiplexer 1240 may assign data groups corresponding to multipleparades to one MPH frame. Basically, the method of assigning data groupscorresponding to multiple parades is very similar to the method ofassigning data groups corresponding to a single parade. In other words,the packet multiplexer 1240 may assign data groups included in otherparades to an MPH frame according to a cycle period of 4 slots. At thispoint, data groups of a different parade may be sequentially assigned tothe respective slots in a circular method. Herein, the data groups areassigned to slots starting from the ones to which data groups of theprevious parade have not yet been assigned. For example, when it isassumed that data groups corresponding to a parade are assigned as shownin FIG. 22, data groups corresponding to the next parade may be assignedto a sub-frame starting either from the 12^(th) slot of a sub-frame.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of assigning and transmitting 3 parades(Parade #0, Parade #1, and Parade #2) to an MPH frame. For example, whenthe 1^(st) parade (Parade #0) includes 3 data groups for each sub-frame,the packet multiplexer 1240 may obtain the positions of each data groupswithin the sub-frames by substituting values ‘0’ to ‘2’ for i inEquation 1. More specifically, the data groups of the 1^(st) parade(Parade #0) are sequentially assigned to the 1^(st), 5^(th), and 9^(th)slots (Slot #0, Slot #4, and Slot #8) within the sub-frame. Also, whenthe 2^(nd) parade includes 2 data groups for each sub-frame, the packetmultiplexer 1240 may obtain the positions of each data groups within thesub-frames by substituting values ‘3’ and ‘4’ for i in Equation 1. Morespecifically, the data groups of the 2^(nd) parade (Parade #1) aresequentially assigned to the 2^(nd) and 12^(th) slots (Slot #3 and Slot#11) within the sub-frame. Finally, when the 3^(rd) parade includes 2data groups for each sub-frame, the packet multiplexer 1240 may obtainthe positions of each data groups within the sub-frames by substitutingvalues ‘5’ and ‘6’ for in Equation 1. More specifically, the data groupsof the 3^(rd) parade (Parade #2) are sequentially assigned and outputtedto the 7^(th) and 11^(th) slots (Slot #6 and Slot #10) within thesub-frame.

As described above, the packet multiplexer 1240 may multiplex and outputdata groups of multiple parades to a single MPH frame, and, in eachsub-frame, the multiplexing process of the data groups may be performedserially with a group space of 4 slots from left to right. Therefore, anumber of groups of one parade per sub-frame (NOG) may correspond to anyone integer from ‘1’ to ‘8’. Herein, since one MPH frame includes 5sub-frames, the total number of data groups within a parade that can beallocated to an MPH frame may correspond to any one multiple of ‘5’ranging from ‘5’ to ‘40’.

Processing Signaling Information

The present invention assigns signaling information areas for insertingsignaling information to some areas within each data group. FIG. 41illustrates an example of assigning signaling information areas forinserting signaling information starting from the 1^(st) segment of the4^(th) MPH block (B4) to a portion of the 2^(nd) segment. Morespecifically, 276(=207+69) bytes of the 4^(th) MPH block (B4) in eachdata group are assigned as the signaling information area. In otherwords, the signaling information area consists of 207 bytes of the1^(st) segment and the first 69 bytes of the 2^(nd) segment of the4^(th) MPH block (B4). For example, the 1^(st) segment of the 4^(th) MPHblock (B4) corresponds to the 17^(th) or 173^(rd) segment of a VSBfield. The signaling information that is to be inserted in the signalinginformation area is FEC-encoded by the signaling encoder 1304, therebyinputted to the group formatter 1303.

The group formatter 1303 inserts the signaling information, which isFEC-encoded and outputted by the signaling encoder 1304, in thesignaling information area within the data group. Herein, the signalinginformation may be identified by two different types of signalingchannels: a transmission parameter channel (TPC) and a fast informationchannel (FIC). Herein, the TPC information corresponds to signalinginformation including transmission parameters, such as RSframe-associated information, SCCC-associated information, and MPHframe-associated information. However, the signaling informationpresented herein is merely exemplary. And, since the adding or deletingof signaling information included in the TPC may be easily adjusted andmodified by one skilled in the art, the present invention will,therefore, not be limited to the examples set forth herein. Furthermore,the FIC is provided to enable a fast service acquisition of datareceivers, and the FIC includes cross layer information between thephysical layer and the upper layer(s).

FIG. 42 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the signaling encoder1304 according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 42, thesignaling encoder 1304 includes a TPC encoder 1561, an FIC encoder 1562,a block interleaver 1563, a multiplexer 1564, a signaling randomizer1565, and a PCCC encoder 1566. The TPC encoder 1561 receives 10-bytes ofTPC data and performs (18,10)-RS encoding on the 10-bytes of TPC data,thereby adding 8 bytes of parity data to the 10 bytes of TPC data. The18 bytes of RS-encoded TPC data are outputted to the multiplexer 1564.The FIC encoder 1562 receives 37-bytes of FIC data and performs(51,37)-RS encoding on the 37-bytes of FIC data, thereby adding 14 bytesof parity data to the 37 bytes of FIC data. Thereafter, the 51 bytes ofRS-encoded FIC data are inputted to the block interleaver 1563, therebybeing interleaved in predetermined block units.

Herein, the block interleaver 1563 corresponds to a variable lengthblock interleaver. The block interleaver 1563 interleaves the FIC datawithin each sub-frame in TNoG(column)×51(row) block units and thenoutputs the interleaved data to the multiplexer 1564. Herein, the TNoGcorresponds to the total number of data groups being assigned to allsub-frames within an MPH frame. The block interleaver 1563 issynchronized with the first set of FIC data in each sub-frame. The blockinterleaver 1563 writes 51 bytes of incoming (or inputted) RS codewordsin a row direction (i.e., row-by-row) and left-to-right and up-to-downdirections and reads 51 bytes of RS codewords in a column direction(i.e., column-by-column) and left-to-right and up-to-down directions,thereby outputting the RS codewords.

The multiplexer 1564 multiplexes the RS-encoded TPC data from the TPCencoder 1561 and the block-interleaved FIC data from the blockinterleaver 1563 along a time axis. Then, the multiplexer 1564 outputs69 bytes of the multiplexed data to the signaling randomizer 1565. Thesignaling randomizer 1565 randomizes the multiplexed data and outputsthe randomized data to the PCCC encoder 1566. The signaling randomizer1565 may use the same generator polynomial of the randomizer used formobile broadcast service data. Also, initialization occurs in each datagroup. The PCCC encoder 1566 corresponds to an inner encoder performingPCCC-encoding on the randomized data (i.e., signaling information data).The PCCC encoder 1566 may include 6 even component encoders and 6 oddcomponent encoders.

FIG. 43 illustrates an example of a syntax structure of TPC data beinginputted to the TPC encoder 1561. The TPC data are inserted in thesignaling information area of each data group and then transmitted. TheTPC data may include a sub-frame_number field, a slot_number field, aparade_id field, a starting_group_number (SGN) field, a number_of_groups(NoG) field, a parade_repetition_cycle (PRC) field, an RS_frame_modefield, an RS_code_mode_primary field, an RS_code_mode_secondary field,an SCCC_block_mode field, an SCCC_outer_code_mode_A field, anSCCC_outer_code_mode_B field, an SCCC_outer_code_mode_C field, anSCCC_outer_code_mode_D field, an FIC_version field, aparade_continuity_counter field, and a TNoG field.

The Sub-Frame_number field corresponds to the current Sub-Frame numberwithin the MPH frame, which is transmitted for MPH framesynchronization. The value of the Sub-Frame_number field may range from0 to 4. The Slot_number field indicates the current slot number withinthe sub-frame, which is transmitted for MPH frame synchronization. Also,the value of the Sub-Frame_number field may range from 0 to 15. TheParade_id field identifies the parade to which this group belongs. Thevalue of this field may be any 7-bit value. Each parade in a MPHtransmission shall have a unique Parade_id field.

Communication of the Parade_id between the physical layer and themanagement layer may be performed by means of an Ensemble_id fieldformed by adding one bit to the left of the Parade_id field. If theEnsemble_id field is used for the primary Ensemble delivered throughthis parade, the added MSB shall be equal to ‘0’. Otherwise, if theEnsemble_id field is used for the secondary ensemble, the added MSBshall be equal to ‘1’. Assignment of the Parade_id field values mayoccur at a convenient level of the system, usually in the managementlayer. The starting_group_number (SGN) field shall be the firstSlot_number for a parade to which this group belongs, as determined byEquation 1 (i.e., after the Slot numbers for all preceding parades havebeen calculated). The SGN and NoG shall be used according to Equation 1to obtain the slot numbers to be allocated to a parade within thesub-frame.

The number_of_Groups (NoG) field shall be the number of groups in asub-frame assigned to the parade to which this group belongs, minus 1,e.g., NoG=0 implies that one group is allocated (or assigned) to thisparade in a sub-frame. The value of NoG may range from 0 to 7. Thislimits the amount of data that a parade may take from the main (legacy)service data, and consequently the maximum data that can be carried byone parade. The slot numbers assigned to the corresponding Parade can becalculated from SGN and NoG, using Equation 1. By taking each parade insequence, the specific slots for each parade will be determined, andconsequently the SGN for each succeeding parade. For example, if for aspecific parade SGN=3 and NoG=3 (010b for 3-bit field of NoG),substituting i=3, 4, and 5 in Equation 1 provides slot numbers 12, 2,and 6. The Parade_repetition_cycle (PRC) field corresponds to the cycletime over which the parade is transmitted, minus 1, specified in unitsof MPH frames, as described in Table 12.

TABLE 12 PRC Description 000 This parade shall be transmitted once everyMPH frame. 001 This parade shall be transmitted once every 2 MPH frames.010 This parade shall be transmitted once every 3 MPH frames. 011 Thisparade shall be transmitted once every 4 MPH frames. 100 This paradeshall be transmitted once every 5 MPH frames. 101 This parade shall betransmitted once every 6 MPH frames. 110 This parade shall betransmitted once every 7 MPH frames. 111 Reserved

The RS_Frame_mode field shall be as defined in Table 1. TheRS_code_mode_primary field shall be the RS code mode for the primary RSframe. Herein, the RS code mode is defined in Table 6. TheRS_code_mode_secondary field shall be the RS code mode for the secondaryRS frame. Herein, the RS code mode is defined in Table 6. TheSCCC_Block_mode field shall be as defined in Table 7. TheSCCC_outer_code_mode_A field corresponds to the SCCC outer code mode forRegion A. The SCCC outer code mode is defined in Table 8. TheSCCC_outer_code_mode_B field corresponds to the SCCC outer code mode forRegion B. The SCCC_outer_code_mode_C field corresponds be the SCCC outercode mode for Region C. And, the SCCC_outer_code_mode_D fieldcorresponds to the SCCC outer code mode for Region D.

The FIC_version field may be supplied by the management layer (whichalso supplies the FIC data). The Parade_continuity_counter field countermay increase from 0 to 15 and then repeat its cycle. This counter shallincrement by 1 every (PRC+1) MPH frames. For example, as shown in Table12, PRC=011 (decimal 3) implies that Parade_continuity_counter increasesevery fourth MPH frame. The TNoG field may be identical for allsub-frames in an MPH Frame. However, the information included in the TPCdata presented herein is merely exemplary. And, since the adding ordeleting of information included in the TPC may be easily adjusted andmodified by one skilled in the art, the present invention will,therefore, not be limited to the examples set forth herein.

Since the TPC parameters (excluding the Sub-Frame_number field and theSlot_number field) for each parade do not change their values during anMPH frame, the same information is repeatedly transmitted through allMPH groups belonging to the corresponding parade during an MPH frame.This allows very robust and reliable reception of the TPC data. Becausethe Sub-Frame_number and the Slot_number are increasing counter values,they also are robust due to the transmission of regularly expectedvalues.

Furthermore, the FIC information is provided to enable a fast serviceacquisition of data receivers, and the FIC information includes crosslayer information between the physical layer and the upper layer(s).

FIG. 44 illustrates an example of a transmission scenario of the TPCdata and the FIC data. The values of the Sub-Frame_number field,Slot_number field, Parade_id field, Parade_repetition_cycle field, andParade_continuity_counter field may corresponds to the current MPH framethroughout the 5 sub-frames within a specific MPH frame. Some of TPCparameters and FIC data are signaled in advance. The SGN, NoG and allFEC modes may have values corresponding to the current MPH frame in thefirst two sub-frames. The SGN, NoG and all FEC modes may have valuescorresponding to the frame in which the parade next appears throughoutthe 3^(rd), 4^(th) and 5^(th) sub-frames of the current MPH frame. Thisenables the MPH receivers to receive (or acquire) the transmissionparameters in advance very reliably.

For example, when Parade_repetition_cycle=‘000’, the values of the3^(rd), 4^(th), and 5^(th) sub-frames of the current MPH framecorrespond to the next MPH frame. Also, whenParade_repetition_cycle=‘011’, the values of the 3^(rd), 4^(th), and5^(th) sub-frames of the current MPH frame correspond to the 4^(th) MPHframe and beyond. The FIC_version field and the FIC_data field may havevalues that apply to the current MPH Frame during the 1^(st) sub-frameand the 2^(nd) sub-frame, and they shall have values corresponding tothe MPH frame immediately following the current MPH frame during the3^(rd), 4^(th), and 5^(th) sub-frames of the current MPH frame.

Meanwhile, the receiving system may turn the power on only during a slotto which the data group of the designated (or desired) parade isassigned, and the receiving system may turn the power off during theremaining slots, thereby reducing power consumption of the receivingsystem. Such characteristic is particularly useful in portable or mobilereceivers, which require low power consumption. For example, it isassumed that data groups of a 1^(st) parade with NOG=3, a 2^(nd) paradewith NOG=2, and a 3^(rd) parade with NOG=3 are assigned to one MPHframe, as shown in FIG. 45. It is also assumed that the user hasselected a mobile broadcast service included in the 1^(st) parade usingthe keypad provided on the remote controller or terminal. In this case,the receiving system turns the power on only during a slot that datagroups of the 1^(st) parade is assigned, as shown in FIG. 45, and turnsthe power off during the remaining slots, thereby reducing powerconsumption, as described above. At this point, the power is required tobe turned on briefly earlier than the slot to which the actualdesignated data group is assigned (or allocated). This is to enable thetuner or demodulator to converge in advance.

Assignment of Known Data (or Training Signal)

In addition to the payload data, the MPH transmission system insertslong and regularly spaced training sequences into each group. Theregularity is an especially useful feature since it provides thegreatest possible benefit for a given number of training symbols inhigh-Doppler rate conditions. The length of the training sequences isalso chosen to allow fast acquisition of the channel during burstedpower-saving operation of the demodulator. Each group contains 6training sequences. The training sequences are specified beforetrellis-encoding. The training sequences are then trellis-encoded andthese trellis-encoded sequences also are known sequences. This isbecause the trellis encoder memories are initialized to pre-determinedvalues at the beginning of each sequence. The form of the 6 trainingsequences at the byte level (before trellis-encoding) is shown in FIG.46. This is the arrangement of the training sequence at the groupformatter 1303.

The 1^(st) training sequence is located at the last 2 segments of the3^(rd) MPH block (B3). The 2^(nd) training sequence may be inserted atthe 2^(nd) and 3^(rd) segments of the 4^(th) MPH block (B4). The 2^(nd)training sequence is next to the signaling area, as shown in FIG. 17.Then, the 3^(rd) training sequence, the 4^(th) training sequence, the5^(th) training sequence, and the 6^(th) training sequence may be placedat the last 2 segments of the 4^(th), 5^(th), 6^(th), and 7^(th) MPHblocks (B4, B5, B6, and B7), respectively. As shown in FIG. 46, the1^(st) training sequence, the 3^(rd) training sequence, the 4^(th)training sequence, the 5^(th) training sequence, and the 6^(th) trainingsequence are spaced 16 segments apart from one another. Referring toFIG. 46, the dotted area indicates trellis initialization data bytes,the lined area indicates training data bytes, and the white areaincludes other bytes such as the FEC-coded MPH service data bytes,FEC-coded signaling data, main broadcast service data bytes, RS paritydata bytes (for backwards compatibility with legacy ATSC receivers)and/or dummy data bytes.

FIG. 47 illustrates the training sequences (at the symbol level) aftertrellis-encoding by the trellis encoder. Referring to FIG. 47, thedotted area indicates data segment sync symbols, the lined areaindicates training data symbols, and the white area includes othersymbols, such as FEC-coded mobile broadcast service data symbols,FEC-coded signaling data, main broadcast service data symbols, RS paritydata symbols (for backwards compatibility with legacy ATSC receivers),dummy data symbols, trellis initialization data symbols, and/or thefirst part of the training sequence data symbols. Due to theintra-segment interleaving of the trellis encoder, various types of datasymbols will be mixed in the white area.

After the trellis-encoding process, the last 1416 (=588+828) symbols ofthe 1^(st) training sequence, the 3^(rd) training sequence, the 4^(th)training sequence, the 5^(th) training sequence, and the 6^(th) trainingsequence commonly share the same data pattern. Including the datasegment synchronization symbols in the middle of and after eachsequence, the total length of each common training pattern is 1424symbols. The 2^(nd) training sequence has a first 528-symbol sequenceand a second 528-symbol sequence that have the same data pattern. Morespecifically, the 528-symbol sequence is repeated after the 4-symboldata segment synchronization signal. At the end of each trainingsequence, the memory contents of the twelve modified trellis encodersshall be set to zero (0).

As described above, the digital broadcast system, the broadcastreceiver, the telematics terminal capable of receiving broadcast dataand the method for processing data according to the present inventionhave the following advantages. More specifically, the present inventionis robust (or strong) against any error that may occur when transmittingmobile broadcast service data through a channel. And, the presentinvention is also highly compatible to the conventional system.Moreover, the present invention may also receive the mobile broadcastservice data without any error occurring, even in channels having severeghost effect and noise. Additionally, by receiving a plurality of mobilebroadcast services using diversity reception and processing the receivedmobile broadcast services, the signal reception strength may be enhancedin the mobile broadcast service receiving environment (or condition).

Furthermore, by inserting known data in a specific position within adata region and by transmitting the processed data, the receivingperformance of a receiving system may be enhanced even in channelenvironments (or conditions) undergoing frequent channel changes. Thepresent invention is even more effective when applied to mobile andportable receivers, which are also liable to frequent change inchannels, and which require strength (or robustness) against intensenoise.

Also, by receiving the map information or traffic information as mobilebroadcast service data, and by downloading and updating the received mapinformation or traffic information, the present invention may providefaster and more accurate road (or travel) guidance services to theusers. Finally, the present invention is capable of automaticallyreceiving the latest information, without having to perform any manualoperations, such as upgrading the map information or traffic informationthrough an external memory device.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A digital broadcast system, comprising: a receiving unit forreceiving a broadcast signal multiplexed mobile broadcast service dataincluding a first information associated with safety/security and mainbroadcast service data, wherein the mobile broadcast service dataconfigures a RS frame, and wherein the RS frame includes at least onedata packet corresponding to the mobile broadcast service data, an RSparity generated based upon the at least one data packet, and a CRCchecksum generated based upon the at least one data packet and the RSparity; a RS frame decoder for performing CRC-decoding and RS-decodingon the RS frame, thereby correcting errors occurred in the correspondingmobile broadcast service data; a decoding unit for extracting the firstinformation from the error-corrected mobile broadcast service data,thereby decoding the extracted data with at least one of an audiodecoder, a video decoder, and a data decoder; and an output unit foroutputting the first information decoded by the decoder in a form of atleast one of a text, a voice message, and an image.
 2. The broadcastreceiver of claim 1, further comprising: a position information modulefor searching and generating a current position information of thebroadcast receiver; and a telecommunication module for communicatingwith a domestic carrier located at a remote site via a wirelesstelecommunication network, and transmitting a second information to thedomestic carrier, when an auto-theft incident or accident is detected,wherein the second information is information associated withsafety/security including at least one of a license plate number of acorresponding vehicle and a current position information of acorresponding vehicle.
 3. The broadcast receiver of claim 2, wherein thefirst information is different from the second information each other.4. The broadcast receiver of claim 2, further comprising: a navigationunit for performing at least one of travel route search, map matching,and travel route guidance by using a map information and the currentposition information.
 5. The broadcast receiver of claim 1, furthercomprising: a known sequence detector for detecting known data linearlyinserted within at least one data group, which configures the RS frame;and a channel equalizer for channel-equalizing the mobile broadcastservice data using the detected known data.
 6. The broadcast receiver ofclaim 1, further comprising: a transmission parameter detector fordetecting transmission parameters inserted in a predetermined positionwithin at least one data group, which configures the RS frame; and apower controller for controlling power based upon the detectedtransmission parameters, thereby receiving a data group includingrequested mobile broadcast service data.
 7. The broadcast receiver ofclaim 6, further comprising: a block decoder symbol-decoding the mobilebroadcast service data in block units, based upon the detectedtransmission parameter.
 8. A method for processing data of a broadcastreceiver, comprising: receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed mobilebroadcast service data including a first information associated withsafety/security and main broadcast service data, wherein the mobilebroadcast service data configures a RS frame, and wherein the RS frameincludes at least one data packet corresponding to the mobile broadcastservice data, an RS parity generated based upon the at least one datapacket, and a CRC checksum generated based upon the at least one datapacket and the RS parity; performing CRC-decoding and RS-decoding on theRS frame, thereby correcting errors occurred in the corresponding mobilebroadcast service data; extracting the first information from theerror-corrected mobile broadcast service data, thereby decoding theextracted data with at least one of an audio decoder, a video decoder,and a data decoder; and outputting the first information decoded by thedecoder in a form of at least one of a text, a voice message, and animage.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: searching andgenerating a current position information of the broadcast receiver; andcommunicating with a domestic carrier located at a remote site via awireless telecommunication network, and transmitting a secondinformation to the domestic carrier, when an auto-theft incident oraccident is detected, wherein the second information is informationassociated with safety/security including at least one of a licenseplate number of a corresponding vehicle and a current positioninformation of a corresponding vehicle.
 10. The method of claim 9,wherein the first information is different from the second informationeach other.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: performing atleast one of travel route search, map matching, and travel routeguidance by using a map information and the current positioninformation.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: detectingknown data linearly inserted within at least one data group, whichconfigures the RS frame; and channel-equalizing the mobile broadcastservice data using the detected known data.
 13. The method of claim 8,further comprising: detecting transmission parameters inserted in apredetermined position within at least one data group, which configuresthe RS frame; and controlling power based upon the detected transmissionparameters, thereby receiving a data group including requested mobilebroadcast service data.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:symbol-decoding the mobile broadcast service data in block units, basedupon the detected transmission parameter.